Became the Unjust Contract Slave of the Archamage’s Book

As Zilph fell asleep, a profound silence descended upon them.

“Binaeril, are you alright?”

The party members ran to Binaeril, who had just faced the spirit. They couldn’t hear Zilph’s voice, just as they couldn’t hear the conversation between Binaeril and Veritas.

Binaeril’s shoulder was in complete disarray from the hurried freezing of his wound. Rike examined his injury and turned pale.

“The wound is severe.”

Simon, who had been bombarding him with questions about his conversation with the spirit without realizing the gravity of the situation, responded to her words.

“Our village is just beyond here.”

“Can we go now?”

“If the spirit has permitted it, I think so.”

Fortunately, before falling asleep, Zilph had arranged an exit for them. The path to the Miao Tribe village was clear.

“Ugh… Oh…”

“Stay still. Don’t fidget.”

Once again, Binaeril found himself on Sylvia’s back.

“It feels like I’ve been getting piggyback rides from you a lot lately.”

“Who told you to be so reckless with your body? It’s all your own doing.”

Though she grumbled, she knew the truth. Binaeril put himself in danger to prevent others from getting hurt. That’s why he always acted so recklessly.

Despite her outward complaints, Sylvia trusted and relied on Binaeril.

As they climbed a bit further up the valley, their view opened up to the vast landscape of Hoenberg.

“Ha…”

Rike, Sylvia, Simon, the Miao Tribe child, and Binaeril, over Sylvia’s shoulder, took in the expansive greenery.

“Humans, there are humans!”

“How did humans get here?”

Voices of commotion rose from below them.

It was the Miao Tribe.

Since Binaeril and his companions were at the top of the mountain, the Miao Tribe members, at a lower elevation, could only see the two girls carrying a boy.

“Call the warriors!”

To the non-human tribes, humans were beings to be wary of and rejected. Recognizing them as humans, the Miao Tribe members became frantic.

“What are humans doing here?”

Soon, the tribe’s warriors emerged, each gripping their weapons and watching them warily. The Miao Tribe warriors wore no shirts, only pants woven from leaves and leather.

The warrior at the forefront flexed his massive pectoral muscles. Even compared to the other warriors, he was the largest. Each side of his chest was big enough to fit a human face.

“If you don’t leave immediately, the Miao Tribe’s spears will show no mercy.”

“No, it’s not like that…”

“Dad?”

Upon hearing a familiar voice, Simon peeked over the rocky ledge.

“Simon?”

“Dad!”

“Simon!”

“Dad!”

Simon’s tearful cry escaped as he ran into the warrior’s arms. Simons’ father, both happy and bewildered, dropped his spear and embraced his son who rushed towards him.

“How did you end up with humans?”

“They are mages passing through Hoenberg, and I guided them.”

“But the Wind Gorge is still…”

“We met the spirit. These mages solved the problem in the Wind Gorge.”

Simon omitted the harrowing battle with the spirit from his explanation.

“They… persuaded the spirit?”

“Uh, yes.”

Simon felt uneasy about explaining that they subdued the spirit through force.

The Miao Tribe warrior’s expression was complicated.

Should he be happy that his son had returned?

Should he scold his son for leading humans to the Miao Tribe village?

Meanwhile, Rike and Sylvia approached them, looking exhausted and emphasizing their harmlessness as much as possible.

“These mages helped me. They also solved the problem in the Wind Gorge. Dad!”

“Yes, what is it?”

“There is an injured person among the humans. Please help them.”

The Miao Tribe warrior finally noticed Binaeril, who was carried on Sylvia’s back. Still not completely dropping his guard, the warrior addressed Binaeril’s group.

“…Humans, why did you climb Hoenberg?”

Rike stepped forward to explain, seeing that Sylvia was uncomfortable due to Binaeril’s condition.

“Hello, warriors of the Miao Tribe. We are travelers heading west. With the help of your son, we aimed to cross the mountain range. We bear no ill will towards the Miao Tribe, so we humbly ask for your understanding.”

Rike conveyed their position clearly and respectfully.

Her precise and articulate manner left the Miao Tribe warrior with no room for rebuttal.

Meanwhile, Sylvia, watching the conversation from behind, felt tears welling up.

“The princess, the princess has grown…”

As Sylvia wept tears of emotion, Binaeril, behind her, was in agony.

“Please stay still. There’s someone dying on your back…”

“Sori, what should we do?”

“Even though they are humans, we cannot ignore the kindness they showed in saving a Miao Tribe child. The Miao Tribe does not forget grace and enmity. Guide the humans to the village.”

“Yes!”

Thus, they were led into the Miao Tribe village.

The village had a peculiar appearance. Most of the houses were built in the trees.

In the Miao Tribe village, everyone, young and old, lived like flying squirrels, moving from tree to tree. The long, outstretched branches served as their paths, and the trunks as their playground.

Despite the exotic scenery, the group couldn’t relax and explore the village.

The Miao Tribe residents were uncomfortable with their presence.

“Sorry. Everyone has a grudge against humans.”

The Miao Tribe warrior who greeted them seemed to be a person of considerable influence in the village. His name was Sori.

“Sori?”

Binaeril could easily recall that name.

“Mage Sorisimon.”

“It was the name Sorisimon that Simon falsely claimed as his own.”

“Ah, right.”

He had combined his father’s name with his own to create a fictional character.

“So, where do you humans come from? How did you meet our Simon?”

Up close, Sori’s build was even more imposing than it initially seemed. Binaeril thought it would be quite a sight to see Sori standing next to Dean Yulio.

Rike briefly explained their encounter with Simon and their purpose.

Sori listened intently, stroking his chin.

“Hmm, heading to the capital of the Empire, huh. There is a path down the ridge that leads directly to the human city.”

“Is that city called Edenver?”

“I don’t remember exactly, but I think so.”

Fortunately, Simon had not deceived them.

“I’m not saying I’ll let you go from here so easily. If we treat you and send you off, what’s to stop you from coming back with an army?”

“Then what should we do?”

“Leave the injured one here. He will be our hostage.”

“What? That’s unacceptable!”

“Whether it’s a month or two, once we judge that you haven’t betrayed us, we will release him. But we can’t just let you go.”

Binaeril was essential to the Albrecht journey. They couldn’t afford to delay for so long.

“This is the decision of the Miao Tribe. Unless you want to subdue the Miao Tribe by force? As you humans always have.”

Sori looked down coldly at the three young mages.

Binaeril, lying down with Miao Tribe medicine applied to his wound, sat up and thought.

‘Will there be a fight? Can we win if it comes to that?’

Sori appeared to be an exceptional warrior. Judging by how the other warriors treated him, he was likely the chief. There were other Miao Tribe warriors outside the house they were in.

Moreover, there were spirit priests whose abilities were unknown.

The Miao Tribe’s strength was hard to gauge.

In the worst case, they would have to follow Sori’s words.

At that moment, Rike stepped forward.

“I am a princess of the Empire.”

Rike looked Sori straight in the eye with determination.

“The Empire, which you humans despise, I am its princess.”

“What, is this a threat?”

Rike shook her head.

“Soon, the Empire will have a silent war for the throne. We are heading to the capital because of that.”

Sori listened calmly to her words.

“I saw how Simon was living in Bruno. He was buried in a shabby tent. People shunned and mistreated him.”

“That’s common. It’s why we live in this harsh mountain.”

Rike shook her head again.

“It’s not right. If we win that war, I will work to ensure that non-humans are not discriminated against.”

“Ha! Empty words. That’s a promise you can’t even guarantee. We’re back to square one. Tell me, why should we trust you?”

“I have no tangible proof. All I have to offer, Sori, is my word. But it is the word of a princess of the Empire and a mage.”

A mage’s promise, given with their word, carries significant weight. They are individuals who can perform miracles with their words.

Binaeril saw the determination in her words.

But would Sori? Would a warrior of the Miao Tribe believe in a mage’s promise?

“…Alright.”

To everyone’s surprise, Sori accepted Rike’s promise easily.

“In truth, I had no intention of holding your injured friend hostage. The Miao Tribe is not that cowardly.”

“Mister, then what was that threat all about?” Sylvia asked, incredulous.

“I was merely testing you to ensure the safety of the Miao Tribe. I couldn’t risk the tribe’s safety based on simple gratitude.”

“…I understand.”

“If you are tired, rest. The spirit priest has gone to investigate the gorge. When he returns, he will tend to the injured.”

“Thank you, Sori.”

Rike smiled brightly, as if nothing had happened. Her smile had a way of disarming people.

Sori, too, smiled bitterly at her.

“Well, I never thought I’d meet a princess of the Empire in my lifetime. Whether it’s true or not, who knows.”

He stepped aside to give them space.

“Princess, you’re starting to resemble someone.”

“Me? Who?”

“A very reckless person. Someone who’s always getting hurt and treated like a punching bag.”

“…You lost to me…” Binaeril retorted weakly to Sylvia.

“But Rike, you really were reckless. What if the Miao Tribe had held a grudge and attacked you for being a princess of the Empire?”

Rike shrugged.

“Sori didn’t seem that kind of person. I have a good eye for people.”

“Such arrogance.”

“And even if things had gone wrong, with Binaeril and Sylvia here, what’s there to worry about? I trust both of you.”

Sylvia looked touched once again, but Binaeril felt a tinge of disappointment in her words.

“Guys, I’m the patient here. You should be protecting me…”