Became the Unjust Contract Slave of the Archamage’s Book

Binaeril’s shoulder nearly dislocated. The size difference between him and Inyakan was so great that even a slight shake from Inyakan made Binaeril’s arm rattle.

“Hey,” Inyakan said.

“You’re not just going to pay for the lodging, right?”

“What else do you need?” Binaeril asked.

“Food, man! You need a full stomach to sleep or do anything else.”

At this point, Binaeril regretted his impulsive decision to help. Inyakan, true to his nature, was now insisting on being treated to a meal. He was a bandit without a knife.

“Order whatever you want,” Binaeril said, realizing he’d have to cover the cost.

Inyakan sat down at a table, and Binaeril joined him to settle the bill.

“Innkeeper, bring out your best dishes, enough for four people. None of that watery soup or greens. Make it hearty.”

“I’ve already eaten,” Binaeril interjected.

“And so what?” Inyakan’s single eye blinked at him.

“…Never mind. Enjoy your meal.”

“And three beers.”

“Are those for you too?” Binaeril asked.

“Are you deaf?”

Binaeril was momentarily taken aback by the question.

“No, I’m not. As you can see.”

“Order your own if you want to drink. Stop nitpicking.”

‘He really is a madman,’ Binaeril thought.

“…Make it four beers.”

Inyakan rubbed his palms together and licked his lips in anticipation. When the food arrived, Inyakan devoured it ravenously. He had the biggest appetite Binaeril had ever seen. The innkeeper had thoughtfully prepared a variety of dishes: meat pies, grilled bacon, and eggs. When the beers arrived, Binaeril took a sip.

‘Hmm, not as good as the beer from Vinzburg.’

He might have set his standards too high after tasting the excellent beer there. Inyakan downed his beer, which was almost as big as his forearm, in one gulp. After chugging two more like water, he seemed satisfied.

“Ah, that’s better,” Inyakan said, wiping his mouth with the crust of a pie.

“Two more beers and two more meals, innkeeper,” he ordered.

“More food?” Binaeril asked.

“Why, are you out of money?”

“…No. Go ahead.”

The innkeeper was the only one happy about the gluttonous customer. After what felt more like a battle than a meal, Inyakan finally relaxed. Despite having drunk four beers, he didn’t seem intoxicated. Meanwhile, Binaeril had barely sipped a third of his beer.

Seeing Inyakan ready for conversation, Binaeril asked, “Didn’t you make money from your ‘business’ earlier today? Why did you ask for credit?”

“Business? You mean my banditry?”

Despite the euphemism, Inyakan was blunt.

“Why beat around the bush? You saw what happened. That merchant was a bust.”

“A bust?”

“Not a single coin on him. Do you know what he had in his carriage?”

Inyakan clicked his tongue.

“Children. Starving, ragged children.”

Binaeril choked on his beer, coughing violently. “Children? There were children in that carriage?”

“Yes. It seemed he was a slave trader.”

“So, what did you do?”

“I broke their shackles and snapped his neck,” Inyakan replied, a grim look in his eye. “I didn’t want to see more blood today.”

He took another swig of his beer to mask the bitterness in his mouth. “One more beer here.”

Binaeril’s estimation of Inyakan rose slightly. Though a bandit, he wasn’t heartless.

“But who are you to be so curious? Paying for my food and lodging—are you some rich young master?”

“And if I am, are you going to rob me too?”

“Not out of the question.”

“Even after I showed you this kindness?”

“What does that matter? I’m not a man of conscience like you civilized folk.” He cracked his fingers with a mischievous grin, and Binaeril’s opinion of him plummeted once more.

Seeing Inyakan’s provocative gaze, Binaeril felt a surge of anger. “I won’t go down as easily as those mercenaries from earlier.”

“You’ve got guts for a young master. Can you say the same when I’ve got my hands around your scrawny neck?”

“And can you, Inyakan, kneel down and threaten me the same way?”

A spark of invisible tension crackled between them. Binaeril was no longer the timid boy he once was. Having trained and fought alongside the Duke’s knights, he had developed a certain boldness.

Inyakan leaned in closer, his face inches from Binaeril’s. “Who are you, anyway? You look scrawny, yet you’re picking a fight with me without a weapon? Didn’t you learn anything from earlier? Fistfighting is my specialty.”

The blade Binaeril had obtained in Vinzburg was in his room. But it didn’t matter; the blade wasn’t his main weapon anyway.

“If we fought bare-handed, I wouldn’t be the one at a disadvantage,” Binaeril said.

Sensing the rising tension, the innkeeper stepped in, carrying beers to defuse the situation. “Hey, no fighting in my inn. I can’t afford to have the place trashed with business already slow. How would I make a living?”

Inyakan straightened up, grumbling. “What kind of place is this? No credit, no fighting. How about I beat you up to vent my frustration?”

“Put that on the list of prohibited activities too,” the innkeeper retorted.

“Ha! Just bring more snacks.”

Binaeril didn’t truly want to antagonize Inyakan either. As the innkeeper returned with the beers, he muttered, “Take that youthful energy and go fight some monsters. Count Huber doesn’t care about the safety of his domain.”

Complaining about the local lord was always a good way to change the subject.

“The Duke’s territory across the bridge seemed secure. Is it not safe here?” Binaeril asked.

“Don’t get me started. The monsters are so rampant, there’s a wagonload of people trying to cross into the Duke’s territory every night.”

“What kind of monsters are causing trouble around here?” Binaeril, a mage, was always interested in such topics.

“Why, planning to go on a hunt?” the innkeeper scoffed.

“If they’re manageable.”

“Ha! You’re quite the young joker.”

Even Inyakan seemed interested now, listening quietly.

“Listen, if you value your life, don’t go looking for trouble. If you get killed by that brute over there, it’s a shame, but if you get killed by monsters, it’s not even a shame.”

“A death no one will notice.”

Inyakan responded, “Yeah. You look like a young traveler, but no one will care if you bite off more than you can chew and end up dead.”

Binaeril retorted, “Isn’t that a bit of an exaggeration?”

The innkeeper returned with a beer and some snacks, joining them at the table. “I don’t recall asking for more drinks.”

“This one’s for me. Watching you chug them down made me thirsty. Besides, it’s late, and we don’t expect any more guests tonight. I might as well enjoy myself and pass out.”

“Good attitude,” Binaeril said.

The innkeeper downed half of his beer in one go and spoke, “Ah, sweet nectar. Now, where were we?”

“I asked what kind of monsters are causing trouble around here.”

“Oh, right. The terrifying monster in question is…”

The innkeeper shivered for dramatic effect. “Well, no one really knows. There haven’t been any survivors.”

“Then how do you know it’s a monster?” Binaeril asked.

“Listen, the herbalists, hunters, and charcoal burners around here have been disappearing for the past six months. If they had moved to the next village, there’d be word, but there’s been nothing.”

“They’re all dead, taken by the monster!”

This sounded like a typical ghost story, more of a spooky tale for a summer night than a serious threat. But the next part gave it more weight.

“There’s a charcoal burner’s apprentice named Armin. One day, he saw a snake.”

“A snake?”

“Yes, a snake with a head as big as a human’s. Armin screamed and ran back to the camp, but the snake, having just finished its meal, was drooling dark green saliva and staring right at him.”

A snake with a head as big as a human, drooling dark green saliva. This wasn’t just a ghost story. There was one creature that fit that description.

-It’s a Hydra.

‘It might be,’ Binaeril thought.

A Hydra was a giant, snake-like monster that exuded highly acidic fluids, making it a nightmare for ordinary people.

“And where is this Armin now?”

“No one knows. He probably died somewhere out there. His father was also a charcoal burner. He ran into the village one day, shouting about a snake, then disappeared.”

If it really was a Hydra, it made sense. Just encountering a monster like that could be enough to drive an ordinary person mad with fear.

“Does the lord know about this and still do nothing?”

“Count Huber couldn’t care less about village safety. And Armin was known to exaggerate, so not many villagers believe his story.”

‘What should I do?’ Binaeril pondered, rolling his tongue in his mouth.

Inyakan watched Binaeril closely as he thought. The innkeeper, it turned out, couldn’t handle his alcohol well. After finishing his drink, he bade them good night and retired to his room.

‘I don’t have a tight schedule to get back to Elfenbine. But even if it’s a Hydra, there’s no reason for me to get involved.’

“Hey, kid,” Inyakan said, breaking Binaeril’s thoughts.

“What are you brooding about? If it’s a monster with a head the size of a human, its body must be as big as a house. Do you really think you can handle that?”

“Listen, Inyakan,” Binaeril replied. “Haven’t you heard the saying, ‘Boy, be ambitious’?”

“Hah! You talk a good game. But you’re past the age of calling yourself a boy, aren’t you?”

“You don’t need to take on my worries. If you’re done eating, let’s head upstairs. Let’s leave this as just a spooky tale we heard,” Binaeril said, standing up and heading to his room on the second floor.

Inyakan, the last to finish, drained his lukewarm beer and muttered quietly, “Arrogant and amusing kid. Seems to have a lot of money, too.”

He downed the beer like a pelican and then made his way to his own room.

That night turned out to be a long one for Binaeril. As he lay in bed, Veritas spoke to him.

“Binaeril, you said it yourself. The important thing is your own ability. No matter how much water you store in the reservoir, if the spout is narrow, it’s pointless.”

“You’re right. Let me give you some help. There’s a secret I haven’t told you because I didn’t think your weak spirit could handle it.”

Binaeril kept his eyes closed, listening silently.

– There’s a way for you to become stronger, a way no one else can use. You can directly consume mana stones, just as I have.

– Mana stones are pure crystallizations of mana. Most mages wouldn’t dare touch that raw power, but you, as the master of the Book of Truth, can literally consume it.

– Ever wondered how Yunnaeril became the first knight of the Order at such a young age? Was the Yunnaeril in your memory a genius? Or did she work insanely hard? If neither, how? Did you ever question it?

Binaeril had indeed wondered about it.

Although he didn’t know the full extent of his brother’s abilities, Yunnaeril was undoubtedly stronger than any paladin Binaeril had met. He was known as the Sword of the Order and the Knight of Salvation.

– I’m telling you a secret no one else knows. Kill the Hydra, consume its mana stone. You’ll become twice as strong as you are now. And with that power, find the pages and bring them to me….

The unspoken words of Veritas echoed in Binaeril’s mind.