Became the Unjust Contract Slave of the Archamage’s Book

He did not barge in by breaking down Binaeril’s door. Nor did he rush in brandishing a sword. Instead, quite sensibly, he knocked on the door to inform the person inside of his presence. Until the moment he opened the door, Binaeril assumed it was the innkeeper knocking late at night with something to say. However, when he opened the door, there stood Dominic Schiller.

“We meet again.”

Without asking for Binaeril’s permission, Dominic walked into the room and claimed a chair, sitting down.

“Have a seat.”

Dominic’s behavior was so natural that it was unclear who was the host and who was the guest. Binaeril was momentarily at a loss for words due to this unexpectedly reasonable entrance. Reflecting on his journey so far, this was the first time someone had approached him in such a normal manner. Was he an enemy? It was hard to think otherwise, yet there was no hostility from the calm visitor.

Feigning ignorance, Binaeril asked about his identity. It was a foolish question. Dominic had visited him in the same attire he wore during the day, the platinum-hilted sword, his symbol, still at his waist. Dominic chuckled at the absurd question.

“Ha ha ha, you know who I am, don’t you?”

Then, wiping the smile from his face, he added,

“Just as I know who you are.”

Binaeril decided to stop pretending. This was the man known as the Witch Hunter, the world’s most famous anti-magic zealot, who had come to meet a mage. Wasn’t his purpose clear?

“Did you come to kill me?”

Binaeril addressed him with honorifics, contrasting Dominic’s casual speech. Dominic shrugged.

“If that were the case, I wouldn’t have come like this.”

He had come without any guards, which could mean he wanted to talk, or perhaps he was confident that no additional force was necessary for a mage of Binaeril’s level.

“Your magic, it’s impressive.”

– Damn, he’s good.

“Let me get straight to the point as we don’t have much time. I am on a mission to capture a witch.”

As abruptly as he had appeared, Dominic laid out his purpose.

“Killing a mere mage wouldn’t require soldiers, but this mission is different.”

Binaeril decided to listen to what he had to say for now.

“The goal this time is to capture the witch alive.”

Binaeril did not know who this witch was, but he couldn’t shake the ominous feeling that he might know the person.

“The target is the Enchantress, a mage named Priya Merzina who lives in Thornwinter Swamp. I need your help to capture her. What do you say? I’ll pay you generously if we succeed.”

‘As I thought.’

The name “Enchantress” was unfamiliar, but he knew the other names. Coincidentally, Priya Merzina was also someone Binaeril was looking for.

“You are stronger than me. Why do you need my help?”

“The Enchantress is a formidable opponent. Victory is one thing, but capturing her is another. This mission must not fail, so I want to be fully prepared.”

Dominic’s reply was surprisingly straightforward.

“And if I refuse?”

He laughed again. What was so amusing?

“This isn’t a polite request. You know what people call me, right?”

‘Of course I do.’

This was not a kind suggestion. It was a peaceful threat.

“Please give me some time to think.”

“…Very well. As much as you need. But it must not exceed tonight. I have a busy schedule. We depart from Ayaxen tomorrow morning.”

“…Understood.”

Dominic left as quietly as he had come. He made no attempt to detain Binaeril, nor did he use any physical threats. But that was what made him so terrifying. His confidence implied that he could capture Binaeril even if he tried to escape.

After Dominic left, Binaeril let out a long sigh.

– What are you going to do?

Veritas asked him.

‘What do you think?’

Binaeril knew he wouldn’t get any sleep tonight.

‘I’m getting out of here immediately.’

“Stay alert.”

Binaeril packed his things and swiftly made his way to the inn’s rooftop. To avoid making noise, he cast acceleration magic on his body and received help from Eden. 

‘He’s posted guards.’

It was suspicious that Dominic left so easily. Indeed, there were about six soldiers surrounding the inn. Binaeril began moving across the rooftops, gradually distancing himself from Ayaxen. Thornwinter Swamp was several days’ journey from Ayaxen. He considered finding a horse but quickly abandoned the idea. He wasn’t confident in his riding skills compared to Dominic, and causing a commotion at this hour seemed unwise. Despite being exhausted from lack of sleep, Binaeril drew upon his magic power. By using acceleration and wind magic to run, he hoped to shorten the journey by a day or two. If his body could hold out, that is.

With Eden’s assistance, Binaeril crossed the city walls and ran and ran. Whenever he lost his way, Veritas guided him. When the walls of Ayaxen were about halfway behind him, Dominic Schiller was standing there.

“Damn it.”

Binaeril stopped, kicking the ground in frustration. Dominic had planted his sheathed sword into the ground and was looking at Binaeril with a lifeless gaze. Binaeril exhaled, trying to catch his breath.

“Running was pointless.”

“A foolish choice.”

“Old man, if this was your plan, you should’ve told me. Why tire me out like this?”

Dominic drew his sword.

“Rats never seem to understand human language. They’re a breed that doesn’t value their lives.”

“What are you talking about? When did you ever try to persuade me? All you did was threaten, not converse.”

Binaeril provocatively taunted him, though he couldn’t hide his nervousness. His fingertips began to tremble slightly. The disparity in power was clear. Binaeril couldn’t predict Dominic’s moves. Moreover, he had no experience facing a highly trained knight. In contrast, Dominic Schiller, known as the “Witch Slayer,” specialized in combat against mages.

‘But I’m not without a chance.’

No matter how formidable Dominic Schiller was, dealing with incantationless magic would be difficult.

“You look confident. Will you use that magic without warning that you showed earlier?”

‘…Damn it.’

“That ability is why I wanted to recruit you. But that alone won’t be enough to defeat me.”

Dominic even knew about Binaeril’s weapon.

He assumed a classic middle stance, a sly smile playing on his lips. He was underestimating Binaeril.

“What tier mage are you?”

Binaeril didn’t respond. He needed to strike first while his opponent was complacent.

‘I need to create some distance. Here goes!’

With a stomp, Binaeril leaped back, heightening his imagination. He didn’t chant, to prevent Dominic from anticipating his attack. Magic arrows formed around Binaeril and shot towards Dominic almost instantly.

“Impatient, aren’t we?”

The surroundings were dark, but Dominic’s silver hair reflected faint light, making it easy for Binaeril to gauge his location. Dominic, however, wasn’t so easily outmaneuvered. With just two swings of his sword, he shattered all of Binaeril’s magic arrows.

‘What a monster.’

There was no time to waste. Binaeril imagined the ground beneath Dominic freezing and stone spikes rising from all directions. Operating magic purely with thoughts required several times more concentration than usual.

“Fascinating,” Dominic remarked, his breath unsteady. He effortlessly cut through the rapidly rising stone spikes.

“An impressive talent. No mage your age could wield such powerful magic without chanting.”

A faint hum resonated from Dominic’s sword as it cut through the spikes.

“But this won’t do.”

‘Come closer, just a bit more!’

Simple magic wouldn’t scratch Dominic. Binaeril focused on his magic, ensuring Dominic remained cautious. His impromptu plan was gradually coming together. For the first time, Dominic moved his foot. In what seemed like an instant, his sword was already swinging.

– Right, dodge!

‘Right?’

Veritas’s warning made Binaeril twist his body reflexively. Though unseen, he felt something sharp graze his shoulder.

‘From this distance?’

The distance was too far for a sword strike. Binaeril adjusted his strategy. Distance meant nothing against the Platinum Knight.

‘If I engage in a drawn-out fight, I’ll lose. I have to go all out!’

As Dominic took his next step, his cold face was suddenly within reach. Binaeril stomped hard, raising a clump of dirt to obscure Dominic’s vision. Simultaneously, he imagined gathering lightning magic in his left hand. His plan was to strike when Dominic dispersed the dirt.

‘Now!’

The strength of lightning magic lay in its incredible speed. Binaeril poured all his mana into the lightning, not thinking beyond this attack. His palm stung, and the smell of burning flesh filled the air.

‘…It hurts!’

But he couldn’t stop. The lightning shot forth, colliding with something but soon clashing in a power struggle.

“Ha!”

“Aaargh!”

With a shout from beyond the dirt, Binaeril was thrown back. Dominic stood unscathed, his dark blue surcoat buzzing with electricity.

“An artifact?”

“You think I’d face a mage unprepared?”

“You… coward…”

Binaeril seethed through gritted teeth, his plan thwarted.

Binaeril, muttering a clichéd villainous line, tried to push himself up from his knees.

“Stop.”

Dominic, though trying to appear composed, wasn’t unscathed either. His silver hair was singed in places, and his face showed signs of fatigue. He hadn’t managed to completely block the close-range magic without sustaining any damage. Binaeril felt his mental strength draining. He intentionally stumbled, making it seem like he was exhausted. All of this was for one final move.

“I misjudged you. I thought you were just a novice mage.”

He lifted his sword to Binaeril’s neck.

“You’re more dangerous than I anticipated—a cunning rat.”

Most young mages lacked real combat experience and powerful magic. But the boy he faced had skills that belied his age, showing an organic connection between spells and a keen combat sense far beyond his years. Without the anti-magic surcoat, Dominic might not have fared so well. He didn’t want to take any more risks. Letting this boy go was too dangerous.

“A rat that’s quite skilled at struggling. Die.”

He tightened his grip on the sword, preparing to slash horizontally. Or at least, he tried to.

Everyone has a trump card. Just as Dominic had kept his artifact hidden, Binaeril had one final move he hadn’t shown.

‘Eden!’

The spirit within his ring responded to its master’s call. The spirit fired dozens, hundreds of sharp thorns right in front of Dominic’s face.

“What the…!”

If it had been magic, Dominic’s surcoat would have reacted. But it wasn’t magic. Desperately, Dominic tried to cut the young mage’s throat, but even that was blocked by Eden’s defense.

“Argh!”

Dominic’s face and torso were slashed and pierced by the sharp thorns, quickly turning him into a bloody mess.

“You damn rat!”

His expression, usually calm, now bore rage. He could barely open his eyes. Binaeril’s hidden trump card was the spirit Eden. Eden had followed Binaeril’s plan meticulously, staying dormant until the critical moment to launch the final attack. But this attack was only a temporary measure to buy time. Binaeril mustered his last bit of strength to chant a spell.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

Dominic, guessing Binaeril intended to flee, swung his sword. Veritas read the trajectory of the attack, and Binaeril created a thin sheet of ice along his escape route. Skating away on the ice, he evaded the attack. Dominic angrily brushed the thorns from his face, ripping his skin in the process, but regaining his sight. 

…There was no one there.

The young rat, the mage who didn’t chant, had already fled from his side.

“You… damn rat!”