Became the Unjust Contract Slave of the Archamage’s Book

“Huh, what did you say? Has your mouth gotten that rude because you haven’t been beaten for a while?”

After Binaeril graduated from Scala, there were changes for Franz as well. In fact, it was a change that affected all junior students, especially those of lower social status who were drowning in defeatism. They lacked the talent, wealth, and status needed to succeed as mages. But now, things were different. Binaeril Dalheim, who had been a perpetual failure, left an example that things could change.

Binaeril spent three years as a junior at Elfenbine. Students and even professors pointed fingers at him, claiming he had no talent. However, he discovered his magical abilities, overpowering the top disciples and winning the tournament overnight. Just in one instant, overnight.

Among the juniors who had been steeped in defeatism, a sense of hope began to emerge—’Maybe I could change too?’ Like the dormant talents that surfaced in Binaeril, could they also change? Hence, Franz no longer just stood by and took it. He showed that even a worm will turn when trodden on.

“If you have something to say, come here. I’m not your servant.”

After pouring out his words, Franz returned to his seat, feeling the burning stares from behind. He forced himself to ignore them.

“Has he gone crazy?”

“Since when did a mere commoner dare to act so recklessly?”

“That’s ‘Binaeril Syndrome.'”

“Binaeril Syndrome?”

“You don’t know? Recently, juniors have been collectively catching ‘Binaeril Syndrome.’ It’s a disease where they stick their heads up and speak defiantly.”

“Ha! That’s funny. Who came up with that name?”

Franz’s shoulders twitched at the mention of Binaeril’s name. Binaeril had saved him from being ostracized. He won the tournament in the same year and passed the Scala exam to become a mage. He was Franz’s idol.

“…Who said that?”

Franz and even his group fell silent at someone’s question. Gospelt Louis was the implicit leader of the group, and he despised Binaeril intensely.

“Binaeril Syndrome? What a ridiculous name.”

“Ha, haha, right? I also thought it wasn’t funny.”

“What can a perpetual failure who graduated through connections teach anyone?”

“Connections? Did Binaeril have any connections?”

Gospelt sneered as if he had said something clever.

“You didn’t know? His brother is a high-ranking member of the Vitory Order. Their family is a shabby marquis house in the Kingdom of Ruben, but he graduated thanks to his brother.”

“But Binaeril did have skills, right? Just look at the tournament…”

The friend who carelessly interrupted closed his lips in fear at Gospelt’s loud voice.

“Skills, my ass. I saw him during the subjugation practice. He showed up late and took all the credit for what I had already done! A sneaky bastard. If he showed up in front of me right now, I’d beat him up thoroughly.”

“Binaeril would probably beat you up thoroughly.”

Someone couldn’t hold back and interrupted Gospelt, who was fuming.

“…What did you say?”

“I’m saying it’s ridiculous to act tough now when you couldn’t even squeak in front of Binaeril.”

“Who is it? Who’s making noise?”

This time, it wasn’t the gang. It was Franz McLain who had retorted against Gospelt. His eyes burned with intensity as he glared at Gospelt.

“Oh, really? Are you Binaeril’s lackey? How dare you speak so arrogantly in front of me?”

Veins bulged on Gospelt’s temples. He wore a smile, but his eyes were filled with anger. His close friends could tell he was extremely pissed off.

“Defending a fellow failure, huh? If I knock you down right now, it’d be like beating Binaeril, who’s at your level, wouldn’t it?”

Despite struggling to graduate, Gospelt Louis had once been a top disciple. There was a vast difference between his level and that of Franz, who had yet to grasp even a fragment of magic. If Gospelt decided to attack Franz, Franz had no means to resist.

“Lightning of the heavens, heed my call…”

Even Franz and Gospelt’s friends were startled by the incantation. It was the activation phrase for a Tier 3 lightning spell, capable of killing a defenseless person. It was not a spell to be used for a trivial conflict among students.

Just as Gospelt was about to mutter the first words of the spell,

“He’s coming!”

Luckily, the announcement of the special lecturer’s arrival was heard. 

“…We’ll settle this later.”

Gospelt withdrew his magic and returned to his seat with his friends. Franz held his head high to conceal his trembling and did not avert his gaze.

A young mage with gray hair, evoking an inexplicable sense of déjà vu, entered the room. His dull hair resembled a cloudy sky, and he had a somewhat cold impression. As he opened the door and stepped onto the podium, Binaeril felt slightly nervous. All the students’ eyes were on him.

Binaeril scanned the audience and recognized some familiar faces. He was puzzled. Why was no one acknowledging him? It was because none of the students could recognize him. Binaeril had changed since he left Elfenbine. Though his hair color, features, and physique were similar, his aura and impression had completely transformed.

“Hello.”

When Binaeril spoke and greeted the class, a few students let out surprised murmurs.

“I am Binaeril Dalheim, here to give a special lecture at the request of Elfenbine’s tower master.”

At his introduction, no one in the room failed to recognize him. Binaeril Dalheim had become even more famous at Elfenbine during his absence.

Bang!

The one who noisily stood up from his chair was none other than Gospelt Louis. He furiously compared the lecturer in front of him with the Binaeril in his memory. 

Mismatch, mismatch, mismatch…

‘Impossible!’

The Binaeril standing before him seemed a head taller, his features more refined and solid than those in his memory. The Binaeril he remembered was not this handsome. Most importantly, the atmosphere around him had completely changed from a few months ago.

Binaeril also recognized Gospelt, who had risen from his seat, but did not show it.

“Sit down.”

“Who are you?!”

Gospelt shouted without any hesitation.

“I’m Binaeril, the lecturer for this special session.”

Binaeril rolled his eyes and gave an obvious answer.

“Don’t lie! Are you really Binaeril? What nerve do you have to show up here so shamelessly after being a failure?”

“It’s not for you to judge my qualifications, and when did I ever stop being Binaeril? And yes, I am Binaeril.”

His confident and slightly cheeky manner of speaking was exactly how they remembered Binaeril.

“And Gospelt Louis, I am no longer your peer. Please show some respect. Now, let’s get on with the lesson, shall we? Could you please take your seat and stop disrupting the class?”

“Who do you think you are to tell me what to do?”

Out of arguments, Gospelt resorted to obstinance. If he kept acting like this, Binaeril had another way to handle it.

“Sit. Down.”

As soon as Binaeril finished speaking, Gospelt collapsed into his seat, hitting the ground hard enough to make his tailbone twinge. The pain came quickly, followed a moment later by the sting of humiliation. Gospelt’s face turned beet red. He struggled to stand, but it was useless.

“Do I need to shut your mouth as well?”

The classroom was already too chaotic to proceed with any lecture. While he had expected some whispers from those who recognized him, this was beyond that.

“Show them, Binaeril!”

As Binaeril sighed quietly, another student stood up, drawing everyone’s attention. This wasn’t one of Gospelt’s friends. Even Binaeril, with his good memory, couldn’t quite place the boy.

“Show them how much stronger you are, Binaeril!”

“Uh… who are you?”

When Binaeril didn’t recognize him immediately, the student looked a bit hurt.

“I-I’m Franz McLain. You helped me when I was being bullied.”

“Franz?”

It wasn’t until he added more details that Binaeril recognized him. He was one of the juniors Gillian’s gang had bullied.

“That guy just said he could beat Binaeril up. He said he’d never lose if it came to a magical duel. So show them your skills, Binaeril!”

“That’s not what I’m here to do…”

No matter what he said, it was too late. The faces of the students were already filled with intense curiosity. Suddenly, Binaeril found the whole situation irritating: Franz, who recognized him and made a fuss, the students with their eager eyes urging for a fight, and especially the insolent Gospelt Louis.

“Gospelt Louis, stand up.”

Gospelt stood up immediately at Binaeril’s command, moving like a puppet on strings.

“Ugh!”

He gritted his teeth, but there was nothing he could do.

“Alright, let’s prove it then.”

“…What?”

“Attack me, with all your strength. You said you could beat me, right?”

The students buzzed with excitement.

“I won’t move a single step from this spot, nor will I utter a single incantation to defend against your attack. How’s that for proof?”

It was an utterly absurd condition. Gospelt felt that Binaeril was mocking him. Despite having officially passed the Scala, Binaeril had only started handling magic years after him. During his time at Elfenbine, Gospelt had honed his skills and now stood at the threshold of Tier 3 magic, which meant he was at a level where he could take the Scala exam and graduate at any time. In his mind, there was no significant power difference between him and Binaeril. Gospelt was delusional.

“Don’t regret those words.”

Gospelt began his incantation.

“Lightning shot from my hand,”

His most confident spells were in the lightning category. The spell he had started chanting earlier to threaten Franz was a Tier 3 lightning spell. However, using a spell that called down lightning from the sky was unsuitable indoors, so Gospelt chose a different spell.

“Pierce and burn my enemies.”

Earlier, he had only intended to scare Franz, but now it was different. Gospelt gathered all his concentration and mana. This was the moment he had dreamt of for months—finally giving Binaeril a taste of his power. As he neared the end of his chant, his hands began to emit a sound like dozens of mice scrambling and fighting.

“Strike like thunder!”

With the final word, Gospelt thrust his electrified hand forward. The students who had been blocking the space between him and Binaeril had already moved aside. 

Bang! Zzzap!

With a loud roar, the lightning shot from Gospelt’s hand. To the students, it might have looked impressive, but to Binaeril, it was pitiful. No incantation was needed. All he required was the mere will to block it. 

As the lightning magic hurtled towards him, Binaeril felt a sharp pain stabbing his eyes. In that moment of broken concentration, the lightning magic struck him.