Became the Unjust Contract Slave of the Archamage's Book - Chapter 20

“Excuse me.”

Binaeril knocked on the Tower Master’s door and stepped inside.

“Welcome.”

The Tower Master’s room was vast. It resembled a mansion with all its walls removed rather than a single room. One side housed a library, another a garden, with spaces including a fireplace, a large dining table, and a wardrobe with a birdcage.

The overall impression was as chaotic as the tower itself.

“Welcome.”

The Tower Master sat casually on the cushioned wooden floor, greeting Binaeril.

Binaeril was slightly surprised by her young-sounding voice.

‘Well, it makes sense,’ he thought.

Ryoz Elfenbine, the Tower Master, had been active since the founding of the tower. Naturally, she was much older than Dean Yulio and others. She was a contemporary of Dekypleio in historical records.

Yet, her voice sounded like that of a woman in her twenties or thirties.

She was of the demi-human race.

It was thanks to this that someone who had lived for over a century could maintain such youth.

“Hello, Tower Master.”

As in the tournament, she wore a thin pink veil over her face. Behind the veil, her ears, pointed like those of an elf, stood out.

On the continent, demi-humans faced oppression and discrimination.

The veil the Tower Master wore seemed like a shield against such prejudiced gazes.

…Though few could actually pose a threat to the greatest mage.

“Come closer.”

Despite the distance, her voice was oddly clear.

Binaeril approached her, clasping his hands together.

He pondered whether he should kneel or bow to show proper respect.

The Tower Master chuckled lightly, seeing his hesitation.

“There’s no need to overthink it. Binaeril Dalheim, just sit comfortably here.”

She tossed a cushion towards him.

There was something refreshing about the greatest mage using no magic and simply throwing an object.

“Your performance in the tournament was impressive. You possess skills that are hard to believe belong to a student.”

Binaeril modestly bowed his head.

“Your situational judgment, application of magic, and… your unconventional use of magic.”

Binaeril had cast a spell without incantation in the final match.

The Tower Master seemed to be alluding to that.

“You remind me of someone I know. Dean Yulio seems to have taught you well.”

“The Dean is an excellent teacher.”

Binaeril decided to straighten his shoulders. He hadn’t done anything wrong.

“Or… did you learn it from the book you’re holding?”

Binaeril’s shoulders, which had just straightened, suddenly slumped.

The book he held under his arm was Veritas.

It was Veritas who had taught him magic.

Did the Tower Master know everything and was just probing him?

“Reading is a good habit for a mage. One should not neglect experience in favor of books, but you don’t seem to be doing that.”

Fortunately, it seemed she wasn’t implying anything more.

“Academic zeal is one of the strong driving forces for a mage’s growth. May I see the book for a moment?”

Oddly, Veritas remained silent and said nothing.

Binaeril hesitated before handing over Veritas, which currently didn’t look like the Book of Truth.

The Tower Master flipped through the book with her long, white fingers, examining it slowly.

What book is that now?

Binaeril glanced at the spine and saw the title “Demi-Humans: Humans or Monsters?”

‘Oh, great.’

Binaeril rubbed his forehead.

Veritas, ever the prankster, had clearly intended to embarrass him.

Thankfully, the Tower Master returned the book without comment.

As he approached to take it, he caught a sweet scent, like well-ripened figs preserved in sugar.

“You seem to have something on your mind.”

“Yes. Actually, I’m curious why this year’s scholar selection was so unusual.”

The Tower Master paused briefly before replying.

“Elfenbine is changing a lot. For better or worse. Some traditions have been misused, like the professors having absolute authority over the selection process.”

Binaeril thought she must be aware of the corrupt professors.

Was she pushing for change cautiously because of her position’s weight?

“It’s not about dismissing the professors’ opinions. But starting this year, we wanted to slowly shift towards a more verified selection process. And there were a few notable students.”

Binaeril almost asked if he was one of them but decided it would be an impertinent question.

“Does that answer your question?”

Though he didn’t fully understand, Binaeril nodded.

“Anyway, I didn’t call you here just to discuss this, Binaeril Dalheim. I said I would reward the winner. Is there any particular reward you want?”

At that moment, Veritas suddenly spoke to Binaeril.

-That ring! Ask for the ring she’s wearing.

The Tower Master wore a dress close to violet, with no other jewelry except for the jade ring on her left hand.

‘What are you talking about? I entered the tournament to recover your lost page. Shouldn’t I ask for the page?’

-That ring is my page, you fool.

‘The page isn’t in paper form?’

Considering Veritas’s ability to transform into various objects, it seemed plausible.

Binaeril looked at the position of the Tower Master’s eyes beyond the veil and replied.

“Elfenbine, if it’s not too much to ask, may I have the ring you’re wearing?”

“This ring? Hmm.”

She stroked the ring on her left hand with her long, white fingers.

“Do you know what this ring signifies?”

“Signify?”

Binaeril realized his mistake as he returned her question.

The ring was on her left ring finger, traditionally symbolizing a century-long bond.

“This is a gift from an old friend.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

-Sorry? Don’t be sorry! You must get that ring. It’s a part of me that I’ve lost.

Binaeril blushed with embarrassment.

If it was from her long-time lover, there was only one person it could be.

The mage who loved her so much that he named the tower after her.

It seemed unlikely that this old woman with an old tower name would give it up.

But the Tower Master’s response was unexpected.

“This ring is a symbol of a contract. The contract is with pure beings closely resembling nature—spirits. Binaeril, do you want the Spirit Ring as your reward?”

Binaeril had not known the ring held such significance. He hesitated, trying to gauge its value and what it might mean to her.

The Tower Master calmly removed the ring and placed it in her palm.

“Take it. I am a person who keeps promises.”

“Yes. But this ring already has a contracted being. If you want it, you must find her and obtain her permission.”

The Tower Master told him the name of the contracted spirit.

Binaeril accepted the jade ring from her.

“If you’ve obtained what you wanted, you may leave. The book was interesting.”

A pink veil hung between Binaeril and the Tower Master.

He couldn’t see her face, but he sensed from her tone that she was smiling.

Binaeril stood, bowed, and left the Tower Master’s room.

***

Rike, responding to a long-awaited summons, visited Dean Yulio’s study.

As always, the study was warm.

But today, its owner seemed to be in a different mood.

“You called for me, Master?”

“Yes, come in, my student. Please, have a seat.”

Rike thought something must have gone wrong with Dean Yulio.

There was a different atmosphere, making it hard to speak as usual.

Dean Yulio carefully chose his words before getting to the point.

“How is your training going?”

“It’s going well. I’ve learned a lot from watching Binaeril. Sylvia also seems motivated by him. You saw them in the final match, right? There’s something indescribably beautiful about Binaeril’s magic. Not that your teaching wasn’t helpful, of course.”

Rike chirped on about Binaeril like a little chick.

She always had a lot to say when it came to him.

Dean Yulio listened to her chatter for a while before interrupting her, as if he had something difficult to say.

“Princess, I have something to tell you.”

In a single night, the Dean seemed a bit more gaunt.

Something must be seriously wrong, Rike thought, as she swallowed and adjusted her skirt.

“What is it? I’m ready to hear it.”

“Rike, I believe you have the capability to become an official mage right now.”

“Oh, thank you. I’ve been working hard.”

“So, I am recommending both you and Sylvia for this semester’s scholar exam.”

“This semester? But I haven’t mastered anything beyond healing magic….”

Dean Yulio took off his monocle and wiped it, a habit of his when deep in thought.

“You must pass the scholar exam this semester. Your sister has contacted me.”

“From Charlotte?”

Rike’s sister, Charlotte, was the regent of the current empire.

It was all part of her plan, coordinating with Dean Yulio to send Rike and Sylvia to Elfenbine.

They were supposed to train, gain strength, and allow time for the empire to stabilize. What could her sister have conveyed?

“The empire’s situation is precarious. Regent Charlotte may be in danger.”

Rike’s small hands clutched her skirt.

The list of candidates for this semester’s scholar exam was announced at Elfenbine.

This year’s selection list was particularly noteworthy.

Unlike previous years, this year’s selection involved a tournament hosted specially by the Tower Master.

Students crowded around the bulletin board to check the names of the selected candidates.

“Avichi Muller made it? I thought he wouldn’t make it after fighting with his supervising professor. The tournament was lucky for him.”

“Denis is on the list too?”

“Sylvia! Isn’t she the girl who made it to the finals? She’s amazing. Honestly, I can’t tell if she’s a mage or a warrior. She’s quite unique.”

“Then how about Binaeril Dalheim? Isn’t he the most impressive? Did you see the finals? He flew and swooped down like he was skating. It gave me chills.”

Among the well-known names of top disciples on the list, there were a few names the students didn’t recognize.

“Rike? Who is that? Was there anyone by that name in the tournament?”

“I don’t know. The name sounds like a girl’s, but there wasn’t anyone with that name in the tournament.”

“Who is she?”

“Wasn’t the selection supposed to be based on the tournament results?”

“What’s this? Is it a corrupt selection?”

There had always been occasional questions about the selection criteria for the scholars.

However, no student was brave enough to question the professors directly, so the controversy never escalated.

But this year was different.

The Tower Master herself had announced that the selection would be based on the tournament results.

Naturally, there were murmurs about a student who didn’t participate being on the list.

Amid the murmuring students, someone shouted.

“She’s a princess! The princess of the empire!”

“A princess of the empire? Do you mean the Albrecht Empire?”

“Is she really a princess of Albrecht?”

The murmuring grew louder, and the students began to voice their outrage.

“If she’s the princess of the empire, it’s a corrupt selection! We need to protest this!”

“Right. They said this year would be fair. Was that all a lie?”

“The Albrecht Empire is the only country that oppresses mages, and now their princess is here at Elfenbine?”