Became the Unjust Contract Slave of the Archamage's Book - Chapter 12

As Binaeril stepped into the training room, he immediately encountered a brown-haired girl.

She wasn’t Rike. This girl was taller and had a sharper expression.

“Who are you? This isn’t a place for just anyone.”

She greeted Binaeril with a brusque tone, clearly wary of strangers.

“If you’re in the wrong place, leave.”

“Um, hi? I’m not in the wrong place.”

Binaeril greeted her cheerfully and walked past her further into the room.

“Hey!”

Dean Yulio had mentioned two female students. This must be Sylvia.

‘Quite different from my first impression of Rike.’

Inside, he saw Rike sitting demurely.

She let out a startled sound when she saw Binaeril.

Wanting to tease her a bit, Binaeril greeted her brazenly.

“Hi, long time no see?”

“Uh, uh, yes.”

Sylvia, who had followed Binaeril inside, asked Rike, “Rike-nim, do you know him?”

“Uh, yes, sort of.”

“Who is he?”

“My name is Binaeril Dalheim.”

Binaeril intercepted her answer.

“And this is Rike. We know each other. You must be Sylvia.”

Sylvia’s wariness didn’t lessen.

She looked at Rike with a questioning gaze, as if to confirm whether Binaeril was a threat.

“He’s a student like us. He’s the one who helped me last time.”

“Oh.”

Binaeril vaguely remembered Sylvia from when she came looking for Rike.

She seemed to be Rike’s friend.

“The one who hurt Rike-nim’s wrist!”

“How is that all you remember?”

It seemed Sylvia’s thoughts revolved entirely around Rike.

“What’s your relationship?”

“Sylvia is my friend.”

“Yet you call her Rike-nim?”

“…We’re friends, right, Rike?”

Rike didn’t affirm and instead gave Sylvia a side-eye, as if to say, ‘I told you to be careful with your words.’

Their relationship was clear enough at a glance.

Sylvia was likely a lady-in-waiting or a bodyguard for the princess.

‘Indeed.’

Sylvia was slightly taller than Binaeril and looked a bit older than both of them.

Binaeril decided not to make it obvious that he had figured out her role.

“So, what brings you here?”

Binaeril briefly explained the situation.

When he mentioned that the Dean had personally invited him, the girls seemed to relax a bit.

It showed their trust in Dean Yulio.

“Were you all getting acquainted? Sorry for being late. One of the instructors almost blew up the classroom building.”

Just as Binaeril finished his explanation, Dean Yulio entered the training room.

“Are you all ready? Let’s start the class.”

At Elfenbine, typical classes focus on the repetitive mastery of magic.

They show students the specific image and example of the magic, teach them the incantation, and then have them repeat it until they succeed.

Thus, classes usually have a static atmosphere.

But Dean Yulio’s teaching philosophy seemed a bit different.

“Excellent!”

Dean Yulio and Sylvia were engaged in a fierce sparring match that seemed out of place in the magic tower.

Punches and kicks were exchanged, accompanied by the sounds of heavy breathing and the Dean’s commanding shouts encouraging Sylvia.

It felt more like martial arts training than magic practice.

“This is intense.”

Binaeril and Rike sat together, watching the two spar.

Magicians have talents specialized according to their individual inclinations.

Sylvia seemed to be specialized in physical combat.

It wasn’t pure physical prowess; between the sparring sessions, Sylvia chanted support spells, each one enhancing her strength or speed.

“Physical combat is Sylvia’s forte.”

“It sure seems that way.”

Binaeril carefully reviewed his words, realizing he shouldn’t underestimate Sylvia.

‘Does Rike train this way too?’

He glanced at Rike’s delicate frame and wrists, doubting she did such training.

It seemed the Dean tailored his teaching methods to each student.

After about ten minutes, Sylvia’s movements visibly slowed.

Dean Yulio, however, didn’t let up.

While Sylvia was impressive, the Dean’s endurance was astonishing.

His specialty likely wasn’t hand-to-hand combat; he was deliberately matching his training style to hers.

Eventually, Sylvia was knocked back by a solid hit from the Dean.

“Well done, Sylvia.”

“Thank you for the lesson.”

While Sylvia panted heavily, the Dean looked unbothered.

“Next, Rike, it’s your turn.”

Rike sprang up at the Dean’s call.

‘Does she train the same way?’

No. Rike walked towards Sylvia, not the Dean.

Binaeril wondered why until he saw what happened next.

Rike clasped her hands over her chest and murmured an incantation.

“The healing touch of nurturing wounds.”

A white glow emanated from her hands.

Binaeril’s eyes widened.

It was a healing spell, a rare talent.

Rike wasn’t receiving special treatment solely because of her status.

Even among Elfenbine’s professors, those who could perform healing magic were few and far between.

“Surprised?” 

Dean Yulio had approached Binaeril and asked quietly.

“She’s naturally unable to harm others. As a magician who must confront monsters, she’s disqualified.”

Wherever Rike’s hands touched, Sylvia’s bruises healed quickly. Sylvia’s expression grew more relaxed.

“But she possesses a talent far more valuable. Not all powerful magic is necessary to save people.”

“You pushed Sylvia to her limits in the sparring for a reason, didn’t you?”

“You’re perceptive. Yes, magic is like stamina. The more you use it, the more it grows. But for Rike to train, she needs someone to be injured. Sylvia understands this.”

Binaeril now understood why the two sparred so fiercely.

“Sylvia has a talent for physical combat magic. Rike has a healing talent. So, what do you think they lack? What do you think I expect from you?”

What did they lack? Binaeril pondered.

Sylvia’s physical prowess and Rike’s healing abilities combined would make them formidable against most opponents.

“Sylvia’s physical techniques are effective against opponents of similar or smaller size. But monsters are not so easy to handle. What happens when she faces an opponent that physical force can’t defeat?”

Magic was developed to counteract monsters in the first place, which is why enhancing physical strength with magic was less common.

Facing ferocious monsters in close combat involved immense risk.

“Binaeril, you are not yet fully in control of your magic, are you?”

Dean Yulio pinpointed the core issue Binaeril was facing.

“You are a fundamentally sound magician with excellent potential. But you cannot progress if you are shackled by fear.”

“…It’s as if you can see right through me.”

Binaeril feared his uncontrollable power, which hindered his growth.

The Dean’s insight, gleaned from the brief duel with Gillian, was astonishing.

“So, what should I do?”

“The solution is very simple.”

Dean Yulio smiled ominously.

“Are you done with the healing?”

“Then let’s start Binaeril’s training.”

“Why is this boy so feeble?”

Dean Yulio’s training for Binaeril was straightforward.

No class at Elfenbine would ever prescribe such direct and simple training.

Sit-ups, push-ups, horse stance, running around the training field…

The Dean’s training hall was vast, excessively so. Just one lap was exhausting.

Sylvia was in charge of supervising Binaeril. The Dean left Binaeril in her care and went to train Rike.

“Huff, huff…”

In the distance, Binaeril could see the two sitting and conversing quietly. Rike occasionally glanced his way, smiling.

They seemed very comfortable…

“Hey, you’re slowing down. Run faster!”

Sylvia seemed to enjoy her supervisory role immensely, perhaps venting the stress from her own rigorous training with the Dean.

After three laps, Binaeril collapsed at the starting point, utterly exhausted.

“I can’t do this anymore!”

“Get up.”

“No, why does Rike get to sit and train while I’m stuck running?”

“Didn’t you hear? The professor said to do it this way.”

“I came here to learn how to handle magic. How much longer do I have to run around the training field?”

Hearing Binaeril’s complaints, Dean Yulio approached.

He explained calmly, “Binaeril, do you know why we’re doing this training?”

Binaeril’s pride refused to admit ignorance.

Dean Yulio pointed at Binaeril.

“Not being able to fully control your magic, or its activation, is a matter of willpower and, critically, concentration.”

“Concentration?”

“Yes. And issues with concentration are directly related to physical stamina. Do you know what you need to train to develop a strong will?”

“Uh… Repeatedly practicing magic, perhaps?”

The Dean shook his head.

“Wrong. It’s physical stamina. A strong body houses a strong soul. Physical stamina is national power. Concentration falters due to lack of physical endurance.”

It sounded odd yet strangely convincing.

“Modern magicians don’t understand this. They think muttering spells while sitting increases their skills. How can someone who can’t control their body control their mind?”

“Exactly, exactly,” Sylvia nodded smugly from the side.

“I’m not asking you to train your body as intensely as Sylvia. Just enough so that your stamina isn’t a hindrance. But even that is not easy.”

The Dean patted Sylvia’s shoulder, advising her not to go easy on him.

“Don’t worry, Professor. I’ll ensure thorough training.”

“And after the running, have a sparring session with Binaeril.”

“Of course.”

To Binaeril, this felt like a death sentence.

Dean Yulio left with a benevolent smile, which felt like the grim reaper’s grin to Binaeril.

“You heard him, right? So, let’s start from the beginning!”