Became the Unjust Contract Slave of the Archamage's Book - Chapter 18

“Please, just once more!”

“Haha,” Dean Yulio let out a troubled laugh.

Despite his confidence in his stamina, his back was already soaked with sweat.

“Why don’t we rest a bit before continuing?”

“No, right away.”

Sylvia, who had just returned from the extermination practice, was pushing herself harshly.

Given her nature, most of her training involved sparring.

This sparring session usually happened no more than once a week.

Today alone was already the third time.

“Sylvia, I understand how you feel, but you should rest a bit. We also need to check on the princess’s magic.”

Sylvia, noticing the Dean’s insistence, reluctantly backed down.

“Yes, fine.”

“Tsk tsk, not sure if I should be happy or concerned.”

Binaeril Dalheim had certainly left a strong impression on both girls.

Even Rike had been intensely focusing on her magic training since the extermination practice, though not as rigorously as Sylvia.

The Dean felt that she was carrying a sense of responsibility.

The thought that she might become a burden, and the responsibility of not needing anyone’s help.

‘I’m not sure if that can be called responsibility.’

Even if he understood their feelings, excessive training could be detrimental.

In the Dean’s view, neither Sylvia nor Rike’s skills were below their peers.

‘It’s not like they’ll listen if I say something.’

Sylvia had a stubborn streak.

She seemed to believe she had to do everything by herself.

That was not why Binaeril had been brought in.

The Dean’s intention was for the three to recognize each other as companions, not to create this overheated competitive relationship.

Rike had a gentle and warm personality, Binaeril was cool and calm, and Sylvia was passionate and fiery.

He had hoped that these distinct personalities would rely on each other and grow together.

‘Time will solve it.’

Sometimes, an old man’s meddling can be harmful to young students.

As long as they didn’t stray too far off course, the Dean intended not to interfere.

“Don’t you think so too, student?”

“Huh? About what?”

Rike was struggling to simultaneously chant several complex spells, clearly mimicking Binaeril.

“Rather, master, I’m stuck on this part. How do I proceed from here…?”

“Oh my head,” the Dean sighed, rubbing his forehead.

Just then, someone knocked on the training room door.

Rike, with a glance, stopped Sylvia from getting up and ran to the door herself.

“Master? There’s an official document for you.”

“An official document? I wasn’t expecting anything. They could’ve just used communication magic, how troublesome.”

Dean Yulio took the document and unfolded it.

“Oh? Hmm.”

Curious, Rike asked, “What’s it about? Can we know?”

“It’s an unexpected message. You can read it.”

The Dean handed the document to Rike.

Sylvia, who had approached a step too late, watched them intently.

“Sylvia, look at this.”

Sylvia took the document and slowly read through its contents.

“A proposal for the change in this year’s scholar selection method. The sender is Ryoz… Elfenbine?”

Sylvia’s eyes widened as she met the gazes of the two.

Dean Yulio scratched his cheek.

There was only one person who bore that surname in the Tower of Mages, Elfenbine.

It had been quite some time since they had directly expressed an opinion on official matters…

Ryoz Elfenbine, that name belonged to:

“The Tower Master.”

The master of the Tower of Elfenbine.

***

Binaeril Dalheim was running in the communal training ground.

Basic physical training had become an indispensable part of his daily routine.

After the conversation with Veritas, it was difficult for him to visit the Dean’s training room frequently.

The pressure of someone constantly staring at him was too much to bear…

On days without special classes, he would pick a quiet time to come out to the communal training ground.

Since the conversation with Veritas, the fever he had been suffering from had miraculously disappeared.

It was as if he had taken a potent medicine; aside from a bit of fatigue, his condition was back to normal.

Well, not entirely the same as before.

His control over magic had improved.

Along with the increased magic power from absorbing the magic stone, Binaeril found it easier to cast spells.

Dean Yulio explained it as “gaining muscles on your soul.”

Just as muscles form on the body through exercise, muscles form on the soul after overcoming hardships.

Whether one believed it or not, the improvement in skill was undeniable.

Veritas was the same as usual. His usual disdainful attitude remained, as if the conflict between them had never occurred.

‘What’s really changed?’

-What did you say?

‘Nothing.’

Lost in various thoughts, Binaeril realized quite some time had passed in training.

It was difficult to practice magic in the communal training ground due to the presence of others.

So he would either train in his room to test his control or use the Dean’s training room.

“Shall I call it a day?”

Just as he was about to pack up and leave, he noticed a crowd gathering around the bulletin board.

“What’s going on?”

Curiosity piqued, Binaeril approached to take a look.

The focus of attention was a poster made of enchanted paper.

A large-sized public notice with the symbol of the Tower.

As he pushed through the crowd, he could read the glowing text.

“Announcement on this year’s scholar selection method?”

The scholar exam was traditionally a process where the professors of Elfenbine personally selected and recommended their students.

Most recommendations went to top students, but not all top students received recommendations.

The final decision was always up to the professor.

This allowed corrupt individuals like Professor Freud to exploit the system.

“That’s fortunate.”

If the selection method changed, Binaeril would welcome it.

A fairer selection process meant he wouldn’t have to deal with Professor Freud.

The thought of seeing him again was revolting.

The content was straightforward.

This year, the scholar selection would involve magic duels between students.

“Magic duels?”

“Is that a thing?”

It might have been unfamiliar to the general students, but Binaeril had experienced this system before.

‘This is beneficial.’

Binaeril suddenly thought of Gillian.

‘But it’s surprising. Wasn’t the magic duel system abandoned by the Tower’s decision?’

The more surprising fact was not in the content of the notice.

It was in the identity of the issuer.

“Tower Master, Ryoz Elfenbine.”

The change in this year’s selection process was proposed by the Tower Master.

That name carried weight.

Reintroducing a forgotten system of the tower, brought back by the Tower Master’s hand.

-Binaeril.

-I can feel it.

-That name. There’s something about that name.

“What name?”

Binaeril approached the name Veritas had mentioned.

The Tower Master, Ryoz Elfenbine.

The three words written on the notice glowed mystically as if sprinkled with stardust.

-There are traces of magic. This woman holds a clue to the first page.

‘The page, you mean the lost page of the Book of Truth?’

-Yes, exactly.

Binaeril’s eyes widened.

He hadn’t expected to find a lead so soon.

‘But even if I know, what can I do? It’s not like the Tower Master will just agree to meet me.’

-Read the notice again.

Binaeril carefully reread the notice.

A tournament aimed at selecting scholars, with the winner’s reward mentioned in the final line.

‘The winner of the tournament will receive a reward from the Tower Master.’

A reward from the Tower Master would certainly include an opportunity to meet her.

That opportunity alone was a dream for every mage.

But winning the tournament?

‘Isn’t that a bit too much?’

-Win, and meet her. It’s time to fulfill our contract.

“That’s incredible.”

The tournament was held on a grand scale.

It seemed as if all the students and staff of Elfenbine had gathered.

For junior students, it was an opportunity to see the skill level of the senior students.

For senior students, it was a fair chance to compete simply by signing up.

For the staff and instructors, it was a chance to compare the skills of their students.

And for everyone, it was a rare spectacle.

Both Sylvia and Binaeril expressed their intent to participate, while Rike did not.

About sixty senior students participated in the tournament, including many unfamiliar faces.

The excitement of the spectators was palpable and infectious for the participants.

Some students were visibly trembling with nerves.

“What do you think of the atmosphere? It’s pretty intense, huh?”

Binaeril approached Sylvia, the only person he knew reasonably well.

Sylvia didn’t reply.

She glared at him with fiery eyes and distanced herself.

“What is she so angry about?”

The tournament took place simultaneously in several arenas.

Sylvia’s name was called among the first batch.

The basic rule of magic duels was to chant loudly enough for the opponent to hear.

To prevent confusion from overlapping chants, soundproofing spells were placed between the arenas.

Spectators could move closer to whichever arena they were interested in.

Sylvia stepped onto the arena.

Binaeril, uninterested in other duels, decided to watch Sylvia’s match.

“Begin!”

“The light breeze at my feet, the strength of a spirit in my arms.”

Sylvia’s specialty was close combat. She chanted acceleration and strength-enhancing spells consecutively.

Seeing her do it so effortlessly, Binaeril realized Sylvia had grown stronger as well.

While Sylvia prepared, her opponent chanted a spell.

Three crackling lightning arrows floated above his head.

Sylvia charged at her opponent with formidable speed.

Sylvia’s opponent was visibly flustered as she charged at him barehanded. This wasn’t the kind of magic duel he had anticipated.

Nonetheless, he calmly aimed and launched his lightning arrows. The first, the second, and the third, almost in quick succession, making it difficult to dodge.

“What is she planning?”

Sylvia didn’t falter or retreat, even as the lightning streaked toward her. Instead, she lowered her upper body and accelerated.

The first lightning arrow narrowly missed her head.

“Wow.”

Then the second. Sylvia twisted her step and sidestepped.

Crackle!

The lightning arrow struck the ground, creating a small thunderous sound.

But the third attack was the real problem. She had already changed direction once, and now she had to confront it head-on.

Sylvia didn’t stop to chant a defensive spell. She charged straight ahead.

“What is she thinking?”

Binaeril was astounded by Sylvia’s recklessness. He saw the spectators holding their breath.

Just as the third lightning arrow was about to collide with Sylvia’s body,

She twisted her shoulder and, with all her weight, punched the incoming lightning streak.

A clash of fist and lightning! The result was astonishing.

Sylvia had used her magically enhanced body to tear through her opponent’s magic.

Wow!

Gasps and cheers erupted. Her opponent was so stunned that he didn’t defend himself as she approached.

“I surrender!”

He quickly shouted his surrender before she could attack. The crowd clapped, celebrating her victory.

Clap, clap, clap!

Binaeril also applauded the impressive match.

Sylvia looked down at Binaeril from the arena, then raised her thumb and drew it across her throat in a provocative gesture.

The unexpected performance drew everyone’s attention to Binaeril. Sylvia, having completed her ceremony, left the arena.

“…Did I do something wrong?”

Binaeril was perplexed, unable to understand Sylvia’s hostility.