Became the Unjust Contract Slave of the Archamage’s Book

When he opened his eyes, he was in a corridor.

Binaeril tried to understand the situation, blinking in confusion but hiding his dismay.

The setting sun cast long shadows between the dark brown bookshelves.

“What is this situation?”

He remembered being in Dean Yulio’s training room just moments ago.

Dean Yulio had said this was a symptom of mana poisoning,

had told him to collect his thoughts,

and Veritas had been teasing Binaeril in a playful tone…

Now he opened his eyes to find himself in the corridor of the grand library where he had once met Veritas.

“Am I dreaming?”

It was a sensible question, but it didn’t matter.

When Veritas was involved, common sense didn’t apply.

Binaeril walked further into the corridor.

At the reading stand in the center of the hall, Veritas, with his curly black hair, was perched holding the Book of Truth.

Seeing Veritas in his true form after only encountering him in the form of the book felt strangely new.

Veritas watched him approach, a smirk curling his lips.

“No greetings. Where are we? How did you bring me here?”

“Whoa, whoa. One question at a time. Why are you so agitated?”

Binaeril glared at him with a rebellious look instead of replying.

“No answering a question with another question.”

Veritas hopped off the reading stand.

“We have plenty of time to talk. But I won’t answer unnecessary questions. There are more important issues at hand right now.”

Veritas tossed the Book of Truth behind him. Both the reading stand and the book disintegrated into dust and vanished.

It was typical of Veritas’s abrupt magic.

He ruled this space like a tyrant, bending everything to his will.

Suddenly, Binaeril felt a pang of fear.

If Veritas intended to harm him, could he stop it?

Binaeril eyed Veritas warily.

He decided to test something.

‘Stupid book.’

‘Ugly. Fool. Dumbass. Smells weird. Ignorant idiot.’

Veritas seemed unaware of his thoughts.

Apparently, in this place, Veritas couldn’t read Binaeril’s mind.

“Hmm, okay.”

“Nothing.”

The two boys stood facing each other at arm’s length.

Veritas spoke first, in what seemed like a declaration of war.

“Why are you refusing my orders, Binaeril Dalheim?”

The word choice was absurd from the start.

Binaeril scoffed.

***

“Sylvia, isn’t it fascinating?”

“Binaeril, I mean. He just became a senior. He handles magic much better than I do. Did our master see that in him too? I never realized how glamorous and alluring magic could be. Not even when watching our master’s magic. Right?”

Rike, who had been chattering, asked Sylvia, who was walking absentmindedly.

Sylvia quickly gathered herself.

“Huh? Yes. Of course.”

“You weren’t listening, were you? What are you thinking about so much?”

“No, no. It’s nothing.”

The two girls were thinking about the same person.

But their thoughts and feelings were completely different.

Sylvia couldn’t simply admire him as innocently as Rike did.

She was the princess’s bodyguard.

‘If the princess had been with me, could I have handled the demon?’

That thought continued to torment her.

Binaeril had accomplished what the princess’s guard couldn’t.

When Princess Rike sensed Sylvia was in danger, Binaeril had rushed in to save her.

Though she didn’t show it, it was a blow to her pride.

Sylvia was supposed to be the protector, not the one being protected.

“Sylvia, what are you thinking about? Your face looks scary.”

“It’s nothing, princess.”

“There you go again, calling me that.”

Rike disliked being addressed as princess or imperial princess.

Outside the empire, she asked to be treated like a friend.

But Sylvia couldn’t comply.

To her, Friederike was always like a younger sister and a sovereign.

Sylvia forced a smile, softening her serious expression.

“Really, princess. I wasn’t thinking about anything important.”

Sylvia was as stubborn as Rike. She could never treat her as just a friend.

Not after this bright and sunny sovereign had risked her life to save Sylvia and her sister.

Sylvia had vowed to dedicate her life to Rike, whether she knew it or not.

She decided to pull herself together.

“I will try harder.”

With those words, Sylvia turned her head.

Thus, she missed the slightly anxious look in her small sovereign’s eyes.

***

“Orders, huh.”

Binaeril let out a sigh, like a reed swaying in the wind.

He recalled something Veritas had once said to him.

‘Be prepared.’

Steeling himself, Binaeril asked back.

“Why should I follow your orders?”

“You said you want to defeat your brother, right? You don’t know how. But I do. Without me, you’re nothing, just a perpetual failure in this small Elfenbine.”

“So?”

“So, I’m offering to help you. It’s a favor for finding me. The most important thing to achieve your goal is power. Pure power, magic, immense magic! I’m showing you a shortcut, so what’s with that attitude?”

“What goal?”

“Why do you keep asking? Wasn’t it you who wanted to defeat your brother?”

“Right. I did say that.”

It was Binaeril’s decision to help Veritas in exchange for learning magic.

Binaeril himself wanted to become stronger through magic to defeat his brother.

“But this isn’t my way.”

“Ha! Your way? That’s hilarious. You’re just a rookie.”

“No. It’s not funny at all. When did I ever ask for power I can’t control? When did I ask for someone to sit on top of my head and treat me like a slave to achieve my goals?”

The black-haired boy observed Binaeril with a curious expression, either offended or finding the defiance of his subordinate amusing.

“Don’t try to persuade me with absurd arguments. I’ll take revenge on my brother with my own power.”

All this time, Veritas had been trying to provoke Binaeril with things he disliked.

So, Binaeril thought it was okay to say at least one thing Veritas hated.

“You stupid book.”

“…Stupid?”

Veritas, who took pride in his knowledge, especially hated stupidity.

Stupid humans, stupid thoughts, stupid actions. All of these were things he despised.

“How dare you call me stupid when you can’t do anything without me?”

The books on the shelves surrounding the corridor rustled ominously in response to his tone.

But Binaeril wasn’t afraid.

Veritas might know about Binaeril, but he didn’t truly understand him.

“Yes, you idiot. Stop spouting nonsense. It’s not that I can’t do anything without you, it’s that you can’t do anything without me.”

“What? What nonsense is that?”

“Did you forget? Before I found you, you were trapped in this small room. No matter what you knew or what power you had, you couldn’t move a single step without me. You’re not helping me. Arrogant fool. I’m allowing you to help me.”

“Ha! That’s outrageous.”

An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. That was Veritas’s stated principle.

So, one more thing should be added.

To absurdity? Absurdity.

Veritas trembled slightly, as if offended by Binaeril’s words.

Was Veritas stronger than Binaeril?

Binaeril didn’t know for sure. Probably, Veritas was stronger.

A magical book that could manipulate space with a glance and objects with a fingertip was likely stronger than Binaeril.

But Veritas’s weakness was his arrogance in thinking he knew everything.

That made him vulnerable to unexpected actions, thoughts, and logic.

Binaeril decided to drive in the final nail.

“You should follow my orders. You parasitic creature.”

Rumble―.

The entire chamber, corridor, and space around them trembled.

This place was Veritas’s domain. Standing at the heart of this confined space, it felt as if the entire world moved according to Veritas’s emotions and will. 

However, Binaeril revealed his determination. He was resolute not to become a slave, even if it meant growing slowly. 

Just as Veritas knew Binaeril, Binaeril also knew Veritas. This was not a one-sided bet.

The black-haired boy, who had been glaring at Binaeril, suddenly turned around brightly.

“Alright. Fine.”

The vibrations that had been shaking the space stopped abruptly, as if it had all been a lie.

Veritas changed his attitude in an instant, as if he were acting in a play.

Binaeril still eyed Veritas warily. 

Veritas was his ally, a helper who could turn into an enemy at any moment. 

And in Binaeril’s mind, a friend with a dagger behind your back was more dangerous than an outright enemy.

“I understand your thoughts. I get it.”

“Why do you look so dumbfounded? I said I’ll cooperate. I said I understand.”

“Huh? That easily?”

“That doesn’t mean your words are right.”

“You’re so fickle. You’re like a capricious person.”

Veritas laughed silently, like air escaping.

“The easiest path is not fun. Breaking your spirit to make you grow is too easy for me. I like challenges.”

It was another provocation amidst his seemingly friendly words.

Binaeril was not ready to easily accept it.

“Go ahead if you can. Break my spirit. Do I look that easy to you?”

“Stop being so cocky, fledgling Binaeril. It doesn’t mean you can control me. At least if you’re my partner, you need to have this much backbone.”

“Is that so?”

Binaeril stretched his words. He needed a moment to think about what would change.

“From now on, I make the decisions. You don’t get to force me.”

“No. Your growth is too slow. Your methods are too soft. Didn’t I tell you? Partners respect each other’s opinions.”

“Hmm, fine.”

He answered as if doing a favor, but something important had changed.

At least Veritas now stated that he would respect Binaeril’s opinions.

Considering what he had gotten from the arrogant book, today’s gain was significant.

“So, there are no issues with our cooperative front?”

“What? Lending you magic power? Well, sure. I’ll lend it to you. The magic you wield is nothing compared to my power.”

Binaeril thought it odd that someone so powerful needed a magical stone, but he kept his thoughts to himself.

He, too, desperately needed Veritas’s cooperation.

“Then can you get me out of here now?”