Became the Unjust Contract Slave of the Archamage’s Book

The crystal that had imprisoned Binaeril trembled. Both Priya and Elfenbine, the one who had sealed him, were surprised by the fact that Binaeril had awakened.

“Phew! I can finally breathe again.”

Unable to break free on his own, Binaeril was assisted by Veritas, who nullified Elfenbine’s magic.

“The Book of Truth aided you.”

“And the wound?”

Binaeril touched the wound on his chest inflicted by Starfall. New skin had already begun to grow over it, rough and uneven.

“Healed? Did the sister heal it?”

Elfenbine shook his head.

“It seems Binaeril healed it with his own mana.”

“I wouldn’t know. I was just asleep.”

It was likely Veritas’ power that healed Binaeril. The silence from Veritas for a while might have been due to that.

—Hmph!

Although Veritas didn’t make any fuss about it.

“You’ve lost your ring. The spirit of the library has returned to the Magic Tower.”

“Did you meet Eden?”

Elfenbine shook his head again.

“Not many can meet her aside from Binaeril. I’m no exception. She’s a very shy spirit.”

Elfenbine smiled slightly as he talked about Eden, though it was hidden behind the veil.

“But how did you know?”

“She originally belongs to the Magic Tower. There’s nothing related to the tower that I wouldn’t know.”

“Regardless, I’m sorry. The ring given by the Tower Lord has been broken.”

Elfenbine nodded again.

“It couldn’t be helped. I heard you faced Starfall. It’s fortunate enough that you survived.”

“Starfall’s power is on a different level than the other fragments we’ve encountered before.”

“That’s right. He possesses the strongest power among the fragments. Even greater than the abilities of the Book of Truth or the Magic Sword that you possess, Binaeril…”

—Tch.

Veritas clicked his tongue. He didn’t like it, but he couldn’t deny that Starfall’s power exceeded his own.

“What do you plan to do now?”

“I’m going to seek out my brother again.”

“Are you out of your mind?” Priya shouted.

“After what happened, you still haven’t come to your senses? Lay low for a while, hide and take your time. With your current abilities, you can’t defeat Yunnaeril.”

Her point was valid.

“Yunnaeril has Starfall, and behind him is the power of the Order. What could a mere novice mage like you possibly do against him?”

“My sister is right.”

“Of course I am. So if you take my advice and hide somewhere to train for a few years…”

“But now, even if I don’t go to him, my brother will come for me.”

“Why would Yunnaeril come after you?”

“He’ll want the fragments I possess, I’m certain.”

Binaeril had four fragments. The number Yunnaeril held would likely be similar.

Binaeril knew his brother wouldn’t wait for him. Yunnaeril would definitely come to find him. Hiding to buy time would be pointless, as the fragments inevitably drew each other together.

Elfenbine, who had been listening to their conversation, interjected.

“There’s no need to worry.”

“What do you mean?”

“It seems they’ve already started moving on the other side.”

“What do you mean?” Priya asked.

“Yunnaeril has begun mobilizing the Order.”

It was clear that Elfenbine’s eyes and ears weren’t confined to just the Magic Tower.

“Starfall appears to be preparing for the final battle this time. The Order’s army has started to mobilize in earnest.”

“Are they planning to start a war? Just against one person, Binaeril?”

“An army, just to deal with me?”

“If that were the case, Yunnaeril would be moving alone. But he… he must be planning to confront the entire Magic Tower.”

Priya fell silent. A war between the Magic Tower and the Order would shatter the fragile peace on the continent, leading to a massive conflict.

“Is Yunnaeril really willing to start a war just to kill his brother?”

“Why would he go to such lengths?”

“He’s after the fragments I possess.”

“What’s so special about those fragments? What do they mean to Yunnaeril?”

Binaeril’s goal in gathering the fragments was to gain power and exact revenge on his brother. But as for Yunnaeril, what was his purpose? Even Binaeril didn’t know why his brother was collecting the fragments.

“The fragments are pure crystallizations of mana. Mana has the power to bring whatever you imagine into reality. Priya, you know that well. It allows for the realization of desires that humans normally cannot achieve.”

Great mana could turn the unreal into reality. The Book of Truth, Veritas, had turned a boy with no magical talent into a mage. The Magic Sword, Mimung, had resurrected the dead. And the Holy Sword, Starfall, had made his brother the Order’s greatest knight, and now, the one who would start a war.

“Yunnaeril must have a purpose as well, a desire he wishes to fulfill through the fragments.”

“Just as I have the desire to avenge myself on my brother.”

The pressing issue wasn’t Yunnaeril’s motives. It was how to stop him if he was truly moving the Order’s army and preparing for war.

“So, what are you going to do? The Order has begun to mobilize its forces. I don’t understand why they would go to such lengths just to capture you, Binaeril, but in any case, we can’t stop them.”

“We’ll have to fight. There’s no other choice.”

“Are you insane? The Order is our opponent now. This isn’t just some petty feud between brothers. Are you really planning to wage war against them alone?”

Binaeril couldn’t wage war against the entire Order by himself. He couldn’t even be sure if he could handle Starfall alone—it was too reckless.

Elfenbine, seeming to have made up her mind, stood up and spoke.

“If they intend to attack a mage belonging to the Magic Tower, the tower can’t stand idly by.”

Priya and Binaeril turned to her with expressions of disbelief.

“Elfenbine of the Magic Tower will officially respond to the Holy Kingdom of Vitory’s declaration of war.”

“Are you out of your mind, sister?” 

“Tower Lord?” Binaeril asked, his expression showing clear confusion. “But didn’t you say you couldn’t get involved with matters concerning the fragments?”

“I can’t interfere in matters related to the fragments, but that doesn’t mean I can’t go to war with the Order.”

Even through the veil, Binaeril could feel the Tower Lord’s piercing gaze on him.

“Binaeril, I will handle those who obstruct your goals. I sincerely hope you emerge victorious in your war.”

The way she spoke of “your war” didn’t seem to refer to the impending conflict between the Magic Tower and the Order.

“I want you to be the one who remains in the end.”

With those words, the Tower Lord turned away. Binaeril still didn’t fully understand the meaning behind her words, though he had a vague sense that the Tower Lord held him in special regard.

Meanwhile, Dean Angelo Yulio hurriedly made his way to the top floor of the Magic Tower, where Elfenbine, the Tower Lord, resided. He had received urgent news and needed to act quickly. When he opened the door, he found not only the person he expected but also several other professors gathered there.

“Dean Yulio, you’ve arrived as well. Please, take a seat.”

Out of breath, Yulio tried to grasp the situation.

“Has everyone already been informed?”

“Informed of what, Dean Yulio?”

The room was filled with prominent deans and senior professors who held key positions under Elfenbine. However, unlike Yulio, they didn’t seem to be in a state of urgency.

“This is not the time for this. The Order, the Holy Kingdom of Vitory…!”

“Dean Yulio, I convened this meeting to discuss that very matter. Please, calm yourself and take a seat.”

Yulio couldn’t refuse the Tower Lord’s invitation twice, so he sat down, still bewildered. However, contrary to the Tower Lord’s suggestion, he had no time to calm his breathing.

Once the Tower Lord confirmed that everyone had gathered, she made an explosive announcement.

“We must prepare for war with the Order.”

“Pffft!”

Dean Yulio sputtered out the water he had just taken a sip of. The professor sitting across from him shot a reproachful look his way. Yulio quickly used magic to dry the soaked professor’s clothes.

“What do you mean, Tower Lord?” Yulio asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.

“A war? With whom? The Order?”

“What for?”

Although they didn’t voice it, their expressions all seemed to add an unspoken question: “Are you out of your mind, Tower Lord?”

“This isn’t a war Elfenbine wishes to start. The Order is preparing for war.”

A collective groan escaped from the professors. Some even thought the Tower Lord must be making a terrible joke. But they knew her well enough to realize that she wasn’t the type for such humor.

The Tower Lord allowed them ample time to absorb her words, and the heavy silence that followed only lent more credibility to her statement.

“Elfenbine will prepare for the war with the Order.”

Dean Yulio had rushed to the meeting after receiving alarming news about the Order’s unusual movements. But the Tower Lord had already been aware.

“What is the Order’s purpose for waging war? Shouldn’t that be explained first?” one professor asked.

On that point, even Dean Yulio had no answer.

As all eyes focused on her, Elfenbine made it clear who the Magic Tower was targeting.

“Recently, there was a conflict between one of Elfenbine’s mages and the Order.”

“Did we commit blasphemy or something?”

“Does it make sense to go to war over something like that?”

Blasphemy was no light matter, but mages typically didn’t believe in gods. And logically, the Order wouldn’t wage war over something like blasphemy alone.

“If we were to go to war, it would be because a high-ranking archbishop or holy knight was killed.”

“Are you serious? Killing those who are considered the continent’s greatest knights?”

“That’s correct. It’s true.”

“The mage in question fought against six of the twelve Paladins. The Order, outraged, issued a warrant for the mage and has begun preparing for war.”

“That’s… unbelievable!”

“Who is this mage you speak of?”

“The mage’s name is Binaeril Dalheim.”

“Binaeril… Dalheim.”

Dean Yulio swallowed hard. To think that all of this stemmed from Binaeril.

“I have spoken with him and confirmed that he is not guilty. Elfenbine will do everything in its power to protect a mage, even if it’s just a single mage.”

With that single statement, the Tower Lord shut down any suggestions from the professors that Binaeril should be handed over to the Order. It was a direct declaration that they would stand against the Order in war.

The room fell into a heavy silence. Everyone was acutely aware of the far-reaching consequences this council would have.

“Inform all students and mages affiliated with the tower. Elfenbine will prepare for war. Those who wish to stay may stay, and those who wish to leave may do so.”

When the mage bearing the name of the tower spoke, it was the will of Elfenbine. In every sense, it was Elfenbine’s will.