Became the Unjust Contract Slave of the Archamage’s Book

Binaeril passed through Edenver and headed northwest. The atmosphere on the western side of Hoenberg was distinctly different from the east. It felt like he was truly in the heart of the Empire. The roads were wide and smooth, and the people were lively. The pathways were bustling with people, and there was a pervasive sense of safety from monsters.

On the third day after parting with Rike and the others, Binaeril had a thought.

“I should have rented a horse.”

The well-maintained road was nice, but walking on flat ground without any incidents was boring. He regretted not buying a horse with the money Rike had given him. Buying a horse and tack would have easily cost a florin gold coin, but he had more than enough money for it.

“In the next city, I must get a horse.”

Still, his journey wasn’t entirely unproductive. The safe and smooth road helped Binaeril with his training. As he walked, he often recalled Jinulbam’s teachings. During his stay in the Miao Tribe village, he had made some progress. His communication with Eden had improved. Where Eden previously acted autonomously, Binaeril could now sense Eden’s thoughts and intentions with his heightened awareness. This allowed for more precise cooperation between them. Although he wasn’t yet strong enough to face a spirit like Zilph, it was progress.

Another benefit was Jinulbam’s breathing technique, which was specialized for using his senses to perceive his surroundings. Through this practice, Binaeril’s senses had become more acute. Not only were his senses sharper, but even in his sleep, he could subconsciously sense his environment. This was a very useful skill for a solo traveler. However, there was a downside…

Growwwl.

Binaeril’s hunger was twice as noticeable, prompting him to quicken his pace. After three days of walking, he was nearing the next city. Ayaxen was a large city, the largest Binaeril had visited since leaving Elfenbine. Edenver was a big city, but he had only seen it from a distance.

In the central plaza of Ayaxen, many stalls were set up.

“Here! Here! Special grilled chicken skewers cooked with Hoenberg charcoal, just one florin!”

“Smoked cheese spread with jam!”

“Freshly baked bread sandwiches!”

A variety of food stalls lined the street. Binaeril passed by one after another, resisting the temptation until…

“I’ll take one chicken skewer, please!”

“Welcome!”

He had planned to find lodging and then eat, but the smells were irresistible. He had no choice but to satisfy his hunger first. Binaeril toured the stalls, sampling Ayaxen’s cuisine: chicken skewers, sandwiches, fried fish, and cured ham. The food was vibrant and different from what he had grown up with in Ruben or around Elfenbine.

“Mmm…”

The vendor grilling the skewers laughed heartily as he watched Binaeril, cheeks stuffed with food.

“Hoho, you eat well, young man.”

“I’ve been walking for a long time.”

“Here, have some roasted potatoes on the house. Eat up.”

“Thank you!”

The food stalls were bustling with people. In fact, the entire city of Ayaxen seemed to be teeming with a dynamic population.

“Why are there so many people here?”

“Hmm? It’s thanks to the ruling family here.”

“Ruling family?”

On the eastern side of Hoenberg, most of the imperial territories were lands where noble lords had lost their real power. They were essentially abandoned lands, nominally owned by nobles who lived safely around the capital. This allowed smaller villages like Fairhill or Rostock to have village chiefs acting like kings. But on the western side of the mountains, the concept of a lord was much clearer. The more powerful and militarily strong the lord, the more taxes they could collect from residents and wanderers. The authority of a lord depended on how safe the land was.

Listening to the vendor, Binaeril noticed how frequently soldiers were seen throughout the city. Most were fully armed, wearing hard leather armor and carrying long swords, indicating a stable and well-paid force.

“Who governs Ayaxen?”

“Ayaxen is the fief of the Marquis of Schiller. Look, here come the marquis’s knights.”

“The captain of the Schiller knights is passing by!”

As the vendor spoke, a procession of horses appeared, filling the main road. The crowd quickly moved aside, clearing the way. This seemed to be a common occurrence. Binaeril, seated on a stall chair, had a perfect view.

“Schiller knights’ captain?”

“Yes, the famous knights of the Marquis’s house. The captain is Sir Dominic Schiller, the Platinum Knight.”

The vendor eagerly explained. Dominic Schiller, the Platinum Knight, was a well-known figure even beyond the empire. Despite the era of magic, renowned knights still existed, like Binaeril’s brother, known as the Knight of Salvation, and Dominic Schiller. Although Binaeril had heard of the name, he didn’t know Ayaxen was his base.

Expecting to see a famous figure, Binaeril watched the procession intently.

“Even if you stare hard, you won’t see much. Sir Dominic usually travels by carriage.”

“Oh, really?”

At the head of the procession was, as the vendor mentioned, an ornate carriage. Dressed in splendid armor, knights followed, with soldiers in slightly less grand but still impressive armor. Binaeril felt deflated upon realizing he wouldn’t see the Platinum Knight himself. The crowd cheered for the carriage, clapping and whistling, displaying their admiration for the Schiller house.

“The Marquis’s house is well-liked, huh?”

“Yes, especially Sir Dominic. Thanks to him and the Schiller knights, Ayaxen is safe.”

Indeed, the city seemed more secure than any other Binaeril had visited on his journey.

“And safe from mages too, ha!”

“…Ha.”

Binaeril chuckled awkwardly along with the vendor. Dominic Schiller, known as the Platinum Knight, was also famously called the “Witch Slayer.”

Dominic Schiller was notorious for his staunch anti-magic stance.

‘Well, I’ll just eat and leave. No chance of crossing paths with him,’ Binaeril thought.

The procession had now advanced to Binaeril’s vantage point, and the crowd was swelling with people eager to catch a glimpse of Dominic. At that moment, a young boy was shoved into the middle of the road.

“Don’t push me, ah!”

The ragged boy carried a basket of bread, which spilled onto the road as he was jostled by the crowd.

“What a waste,” Binaeril thought, expecting the boy to retreat, abandoning the bread. The procession was too close, and trying to retrieve the bread would risk being trampled by the horses.

“No, my bread!”

But the boy hurriedly dashed to collect the bread from the dirt.

“Whoa! Whoa!”

The coachman, who had been driving indifferently, hastily pulled on the reins. The crowd’s attention shifted to the beggar boy picking up his bread.

“Kid, get out of the way. Hurry!”

“What is he doing, blocking the knights’ path?”

Women waved frantically at the boy, and impatient men shouted curses.

“Hey! What’s that little beggar doing? Get lost!”

The coachman, now furious, leaped from his seat.

Binaeril frowned.

The coachman kicked the boy’s basket, scattering the bread again.

“You little brat, I said get out of the way! Damn it.”

“Hey! What are you doing?” the boy cried.

The coachman, with the boy clinging to his trousers, pulled back and kicked him harshly.

“Has this beggar gone mad?”

Though the boy fell back, the coachman, unable to contain his anger, grabbed a whip and began to lash him. Binaeril assumed the soldiers would soon intervene. Such uncivil behavior couldn’t possibly be allowed to continue…

‘Or could it?’

The knights and soldiers following the carriage did nothing to stop the coachman. In fact, they watched with amused expressions.

‘These are the esteemed knights of the Schiller house?’

Binaeril found their lack of morality appalling. Not only the soldiers but also the people of Ayaxen did nothing to intervene.

– Ignore it.

‘Why?’

– The man in that carriage is stronger than you. If you step in, you’ll only get hurt.

The person inside the carriage was likely Dominic Schiller, the Platinum Knight. If Binaeril revealed himself as a mage and tried to stop the coachman, Dominic’s sword would likely cut him down swiftly.

– Rule number one for wanderers: Don’t interfere in others’ affairs. Remember?

Of course, Binaeril knew this principle well. He had learned it through experience. There were countless children beaten and wronged on the streets, and he couldn’t save them all each time.

‘As long as I don’t get caught, it should be fine,’ Binaeril thought, smiling beneath his composed expression.

The coachman, who had been angrily whipping the boy, suddenly felt a chill down below. It wasn’t just his imagination. Although his dark trousers hid it from others, he could tell that his pants were getting wet. The boy, sensing the lack of further blows, looked up and squinted at the scene. The wet patch on the coachman’s trousers was now apparent to everyone.

“Did you pee yourself?” the boy asked.

Because the crowd had fallen silent due to the coachman’s whipping, the boy’s voice rang out clearly.

“Did you wet yourself, mister?”

“No, I didn’t!” the coachman retorted, flustered.

-Ahh, really, 

Veritas sighed in Binaeril’s mind.

Binaeril stifled a laugh behind his hand. The coachman’s embarrassment grew, and as the wetness spread down his pant legs, it was clear to everyone.

“Eww, the man’s dirty!” the boy exclaimed.

The coachman, now red-faced with humiliation, couldn’t find words. Binaeril didn’t stop there. The droplets running down the coachman’s legs quickly froze upon hitting the ground, creating a small icy patch. The coachman, retreating in shame, slipped on his own ice and fell.

Binaeril struggled to contain his laughter as the crowd gasped in confusion. The coachman’s predicament was punishment enough for his cruel actions. Binaeril decided to end the incident, planning to slip away unnoticed. As he stood and began to move through the crowd, the carriage door opened.

A nearby knight approached the person inside, explaining the situation. Just as Binaeril was about to make his escape, he heard a voice.

“I smell a familiar stench of the gutter,” the voice said.

The man stepped out of the carriage, and Binaeril couldn’t resist turning to see the infamous Dominic Schiller. At the same time, Dominic’s gaze fell upon Binaeril.

“Everyone stop. There’s a mage here,” Dominic declared with a menacing smile.