Became the Unjust Contract Slave of the Archamage’s Book

A hastily prepared duel arena was set up in the garden of the royal palace, connected to the banquet hall. Paolo Amguier and a flashy man in his mid-twenties formed the knight team. Binaeril and Sylvia made up the mage team.

“Don’t go overboard.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, it just looks like you might cause trouble…”

“Hey, worry about yourself.”

It had been a while since Binaeril and Sylvia had worked together alone. Or was this the first time? They usually had Rike with them, so it might indeed be their first time fighting just the two of them.

“Is this the first time we’ve fought together, just us?”

“What are you talking about? We took the Scala test together and fought together in the Fairhill and Hoenberg mountains.”

It felt like ages ago to Binaeril, possibly because of the memories from the Thornwinter Swamp.

“Aren’t you two going to get ready?”

Paolo addressed the mage team. The knight team had changed into more suitable clothing for the duel, as swinging swords in banquet attire was out of the question.

“I’m ready. This won’t take long, anyway. What about you?”

“Same here, Sir Nobody.”

“But…”

Without weapons or a change of clothes, the knight team felt insulted, thinking the mage team was underestimating them. As the signal flag for the duel was about to be raised, Binaeril thought, ‘I need to watch Sylvia.’

If she lost control, Binaeril would be the only one able to stop her.

“The duel begins!”

The spectators watched intently, curious about the magic that would be displayed.

“Light breeze, grant me speed.”

Sylvia recited her favorite spell. She confirmed the lightness of her body with a few light jumps. Those who heard her chant felt the subtle power within her words. Even those who weren’t mages could sense the resonance of magic, though they couldn’t identify it precisely.

But as nothing seemed to change in the environment, the spectators were puzzled.

“Was that magic just now?”

“Nothing happened.”

The knight team, who had been on guard, relaxed and struck a pose with their dueling swords.

“Haha, ha! We were just giving you a chance so the duel wouldn’t end too quickly!”

‘He’s clearly scared.’

“Aren’t you coming? Then I’ll start.”

Sylvia addressed Paolo.

“Ladies first. Even if you’re the princess’s guard, attacking a lady is a bit… Ugh!”

Sylvia couldn’t tolerate Paolo’s nonsense any longer and charged at him. The sound of her kick clashing against Paolo’s sword reverberated crisply. Paolo seemed to have some basic skills, at least.

Despite the unexpected assault, Paolo instinctively reacted and managed to block Sylvia’s attack, albeit narrowly.

‘Now that I think about it…’

Sylvia’s movements were noticeably faster than before. Considering this was a duel and likely her restrained speed, the improvement was significant. Sylvia gracefully somersaulted backward, landing beside Binaeril. A necklace around her neck swayed lightly, catching his eye.

“That necklace.”

“Hmm?”

“It’s because of that necklace.”

It was a gift from Sori of the Miao Tribe. As expected of the tribe that served the wind spirit Zilph, the necklace was imbued with the power of the wind. It reacted to Sylvia’s magic, enhancing her abilities. If Binaeril hadn’t learned the spirit breathing technique, he wouldn’t have noticed.

“You’ve received a great gift.”

“If we fight again, I’ll win.”

“Funny joke.”

“Eek! What was that just now? You’re supposed to be a mage!”

Paolo, who had barely regained his posture, protested.

“Aren’t mages supposed to throw fireballs and summon lightning? Kicking out of nowhere!”

“Your prejudice is showing.”

Indeed, ordinary mages typically focused on elemental magic. But Binaeril and his friends were far from ordinary mages.

“Keep talking, and I’ll come at you again.”

“Ugh!”

Paolo realized he wasn’t facing an opponent to be taken lightly. He lunged forward, thrusting his sword.

“Strength like a spirit imbued in my arms.”

Sylvia chanted a strength enhancement spell and began exchanging blows with Paolo.

Clang! Clang!

Despite using blunt training swords, the sound of metal clashing against Sylvia’s bare arms rang out loudly. Paolo attacked desperately, while Sylvia relentlessly struck his sword, wearing down his grip.

“Ouch!”

“See what happens when you provoke…”

Binaeril couldn’t help but feel a bit sorry for Paolo. Meanwhile, the other knight who had taken the stage with Paolo thought,

‘Aren’t they paying me too little attention?’

As Binaeril switched to spectator mode, the knight felt like a third wheel. He found it awkward to start a conversation and dishonorable as a knight to strike first in such a situation.

‘Forget it. If he’s distracted during a duel, it’s his fault!’

Sneaking up, he raised his sword for a vertical strike. However, Binaeril’s heightened senses detected him.

Without turning his head, Binaeril fired a magic bullet that struck the knight’s breastplate.

“Ugh!”

The knight fell unceremoniously to the ground.

“Oops, I misjudged my strength.”

At the same time, Sylvia was also wrapping up her duel.

“I-I surrender.”

Paolo declared his surrender, his hands swollen from the beating he had taken. Sylvia nodded with a sense of satisfaction.

“Well fought.”

Her performance had been overwhelmingly dominant.

“What was that? Is this how mages fight?”

“Did you see what happened?”

“No? One side just fought barehanded, and the other…”

“There was a flash, and then he was on the ground?”

“Wow, what did we just witness?”

The spectators clapped half-heartedly, somewhat perplexed by what they had seen.

“Did you see that, sister?”

“Uh? Oh, yes. Sure…”

Even Regent Charlotte wasn’t entirely sure what had just transpired.

“The winners are the princess’s guards!”

The announcer declared loudly, and the crowd finally erupted in applause.

“Wow!”

“Mages of Elfenbine!”

While the older high-ranking nobles were taken aback by the duel’s outcome, the younger nobles were thoroughly impressed by the two mages’ overwhelming power.

“Now, let’s continue with the banquet.”

The Regent led everyone back to the hall. As conversations about the recent duel filled the air, a servant hurriedly approached Hans Brante, the court physician, and whispered in his ear.

“What!”

“What is it, Hans?”

Hans Brante, his voice trembling, informed the Regent.

“The Emperor… has passed away.”

Regent Charlotte immediately canceled the banquet and sent the guests home. Although disappointed, no one dared to express their feelings in front of the princesses after hearing about the Emperor’s death.

“Finally!”

In a secluded location far from Essen’s royal palace, a man seated at a table could barely contain his excitement.

“The old rooster’s neck has finally been broken!”

Ignoring the wary glances from those around him, the man continued to speak in his excitement.

“Keep it down. There are many ears listening.”

“Ears? Whose ears? Without the Emperor, this world is ours now. Who do we have to fear?”

“Marquis Papen.”

The man warning Marquis Papen spoke in a low, stern voice.

“Even though the Emperor is dead, his daughters remain. Be cautious.”

“Hahaha! Daughters! Aren’t you the one speaking out of turn now, Viktor?”

Viktor von Schiller, along with Marquis Papen, Count List, Viscount Hartman, and other key members of the noble faction, had gathered in a designated place after leaving the royal palace. They had long awaited this moment.

“What is Duke Dux doing?”

“He hasn’t left his territory. He doesn’t respond to our messengers. It seems he won’t be supporting us.”

If the southern overlord Duke Dux actively joined their cause, it would make it much easier to overthrow the princesses.

However, Duke Dux, with his own agenda, extended no support to either the royalist or the noble factions. He had maintained a neutral stance thus far, making his future support unlikely.

“The cunning old man. No matter, by the time he steps into Essen, the royal flag will have already changed.”

“Do you have a plan?”

Marquis Papen asked anxiously.

“I have one trick up my sleeve.”

“Oh, what is it?”

A figure emerged from the shadows, causing the nobles to feel an oppressive shift in the room’s atmosphere. The man’s appearance was enough to unsettle them.

“Who are you? What were the guards at the door doing?”

“Rest assured. He is on our side.”

“This, this man?”

The newcomer revealed a ghastly smile, his protruding molars adding to his eerie presence. His face and neck were covered in dark, red tattoos, which combined with his unsettling features to create a sinister aura.

“Allow me to introduce him. This is the assassin who will send the two princesses to join the Emperor.”

“I have no name. Just call me Goblin.”

“Goblin?”

A name befitting a creature rather than a man.

“You all saw the mages the Regent brought to the banquet, didn’t you? The Second Princess and her guards.”

The nobles nodded, eyeing Goblin warily.

“Only three mages. And young ones at that.”

“You don’t understand. Aside from the others, the boy is a significant threat. Binaeril Dalheim, Junior Baron. He defeated Dominic Schiller.”

“Is that true?”

Everyone knew of Dominic Schiller’s reputation—a renowned young knight considered peerless in his age group. For this young boy to have bested him?

“Moreover, the Regent bringing mages into the palace signifies an alliance with Elfenbine, likely for their survival.”

“I agree. An imperial, a royal blood, allying with the filthy Mage Tower is unacceptable.”

“Indeed. We saw only three, but who knows how deeply they are connected with the Mage Tower? In the worst-case scenario, they might bring more mages to Essen to seize the throne by force.”

“What should we do, then?”

“That’s why we called Goblin. An eye for an eye. To counter mages, magic is necessary.”

“Are you saying this man is a mage too?”

Goblin’s lips curled into a chilling smile.

“This man is a Warlock.”

Gasps of surprise and fear spread slowly through the room as Dominic Schiller introduced him again.

“This man is a dark mage.”

The room was filled with a mix of awe and trepidation at the revelation.