Became the Unjust Contract Slave of the Archamage’s Book

A massive figure suddenly appeared, deflecting Matthias’s third attack. It was Inyakan, who had been overlooked by everyone.

Inyakan’s weapon, the Sikrun, clashed with Matthias’s sword and shattered into pieces.

“Damn. That was a good sword.”

Though it was a quality piece gifted by the blacksmith of Duke Dux’s house, it couldn’t compare to the precious swords painstakingly crafted by the Order for their paladins.

“What a waste.”

“…Who are you?” Matthias growled, unable to hide his annoyance at being interrupted.

“Me? I’m a comrade of this youngster here.”

“Why are you interfering?”

“Are you dense? I said I’m his comrade.”

The veins on Matthias’s temples throbbed with irritation. There were far too many people provoking him today.

“Inyakan, thank you.”

“I knew it. You just can’t stay out of trouble, can you?”

“It’s not like that…”

“Don’t let your guard down. That blind swordsman is different from the riffraff you’ve faced so far.”

Inyakan clutched his trembling right hand tightly.

“He’s a formidable opponent.”

“I know.”

These were the top knights acknowledged by the Order. Naturally, their skills were top-notch. Binaeril acknowledged that he had been overconfident. If not for Inyakan’s intervention, he would have been skewered by Matthias’s sword.

“Let’s go again, Paladin Matthias.”

“You show no sign of remorse.”

“Just one question before we continue.”

“…What is it?”

“Is my brother, Yunnaeril Dalheim, stronger than you?”

“That’s a foolish question. My skills are insignificant compared to his.”

Matthias was the lowest-ranked among the twelve paladins. Although the rankings were said to be determined by various factors such as their standing within the Order, age, and the order in which they received the title of Paladin, Matthias, being relatively young, was unlikely to be one of the top combatants. 

Which meant, if Binaeril couldn’t defeat the twelfth-ranked knight, the idea of facing the first-ranked Yunnaeril was nothing but a pipe dream.

“Matthias, I will use you as a stepping stone.”

Matthias, who had been standing ready, asked in bewilderment,

“My goal is to defeat my brother.”

“Watch your blasphemous mouth. You don’t stand a chance with your skills.”

“Yes, I know. That’s why I said it. A stepping stone.”

“I will defeat you as the first step to overcoming my brother.”

“Arrogant…!”

Matthias readied his stance, the air around them growing cold and tense.

“Need help?” Inyakan asked.

“No, Inyakan. I’ll handle this alone,” Binaeril replied before charging at Matthias.

Matthias assumed his earlier knightly stance, holding his sword vertically. He listened intently, gauging the distance as Binaeril approached. Just as Binaeril stepped into range, Matthias’s sword radiated white light and struck again.

‘This time… I won’t miss!’

The clash of Binaeril’s blue mana wings and Matthias’s sword echoed through the entire gorge.

“I can’t intervene any further,” Inyakan said, tossing aside his broken Sikrun and crossing his arms as he stepped back. Seeing Binaeril’s resolute expression, he decided it was best not to interfere. He remained ready to step in if things became too dangerous.

He noticed a man on the opposite side in a similar position as himself. Callisto’s and Inyakan’s eyes met across the battlefield.

‘He’s no pushover,’ Inyakan thought.

‘This one is formidable,’ Callisto thought.

Both men instinctively assessed the other’s strength.

While everyone’s attention was focused on Binaeril and Matthias, someone took advantage of the chaos. Priya, puffing out smoke from her pipe, gathered her mana. Her obsession with Starfall had a deeper reason.

When Binaeril found her in the Thornwinter Swamp, Veritas had told her:

-There is a way to bring your lover, Yunnaeril Dalheim, back.

Those words had been sweet. Even though she had left the Order and Yunnaeril years ago, she had not completely forgotten him.

-Yunnaeril changed because of the fragment. Remove it from him, and everything will be resolved.

‘That means…’

-Steal the holy sword, Starfall. That’s what it means.

She had suspected it. The day Yunnaeril received the holy sword from the Order, Priya sensed an unsettling and ominous mana in his quarters. Too malevolent to be felt at the heart of the Order.

When Priya, shocked, had confronted her lover in his chambers, he had simply said:

“Nothing’s wrong.”

But Priya, knowing him well, remembered the subtle nuance in his words. From that day, Yunnaeril changed. He acted as if he were possessed by something, scouring the continent for items with similar mana to the holy sword.

-To cure someone addicted to a drug, you must first take the drug away. To save someone lost to heresy, you must first pull them out of it.

Priya was persuaded by the Book of Truth. Her search for the fragments was all for this reason. It was driven by the hope that she could meet Yunnaeril again. Now, it was time to reclaim her caring lover.

Callisto was completely distracted. Priya formed a ball of mist and prepared to strike.

Now!

The ball of mist Priya had gathered shot toward Callisto. Calmly, he swung Starfall vertically, splitting the mist. But that was exactly Priya’s plan. The split mist engulfed Callisto, creating a space of fog around him. Only then did Callisto realize he had fallen into Priya’s trap. The fog space was Priya’s domain. Once inside, it was nearly impossible to escape.

“Sir Callisto, stop and hand over Starfall. Then I’ll persuade Binaeril to release Matthias, and we will withdraw.”

“I can never do that.”

“So, Matthias’s safety is less important than one sword? Even if Binaeril can’t handle it alone, all of us together would leave Matthias no chance.”

“I trust my brother.”

“Stubborn fool…!”

Meanwhile, outside, Matthias witnessed Callisto being caught in Priya’s magic.

“Deputy Commander!”

“Don’t worry. Sir Callisto is just trapped in my magic.”

“What are you going to do to him?”

“I’m threatening to take the holy sword nicely.”

“Priya, how could you stoop to such low tactics?”

Priya glared at Matthias as if he were spouting nonsense.

“Low tactics? You expect me to face two knights of the Order head-on? That’s foolish. You have to use every method available.”

“Deputy Commander will not be defeated so easily.”

“We’ll see about that.”

The white light on Matthias’s estoc intensified. He wanted to rush to Callisto’s aid, but his opponent wouldn’t let him.

Bang! Bang!

Binaeril’s magic bullets fired with a much fiercer and more intense sound than before.

“It’s useless!”

Binaeril fired the magic bullets at Matthias from various angles, but deceptive trajectories or directions were useless against him. Matthias, having lost his sight, had trained his other senses to the extreme. No matter how unexpected the attack, he would always block it.

‘I can’t win with surprises. I need a different strategy.’

When tricks didn’t work, there was only one option left: a direct confrontation.

Binaeril stopped his onslaught and steadied his breath.

“Are your tricks over?” Matthias asked.

Matthias’s specialty was a triple thrust, while Binaeril had only two wings. He needed a third bullet to defeat Matthias. 

The blue mana wings sprouting from Binaeril’s shoulder blades fluttered. Matthias felt the cold air current brush against his cheek. It was the same mana that had left him with unforgettable chills at Rotfallen.

The memory alone was painful.

“I will put everything into this next move.”

“…Very well,” Matthias replied, readying his stance.

Though he couldn’t see it, he felt a shift in Binaeril’s demeanor. The estoc in his hand began to glow white again. Binaeril’s wings burned brighter, like blue flames, intensifying.

Three seconds of silence.

Then, as if on cue, both unleashed their full power.

A single point breakthrough.

Their attacks met at one point. Matthias launched three beams of light. After the first two thrusts, he put all his strength into the third and final attack.

Binaeril’s wings, now as sharp as needles, were sent forward.

Clang! Clang!

The first two beams were deflected by Binaeril’s wings, each one taking on a wing. But there was still one beam left. Binaeril was a step behind, chanting the incantation for his magic bullet. Despite the delay, the power was immense.

He recalled the man he had once defeated with a single magic bullet. That man’s specialty had also been a swift, dazzling sword.

‘Just a sewer rat.’

The Platinum Knight, with his pale silver hair and cold, contemptuous gaze, had looked down on him.

Layer upon layer of imagination, amplified by surging mana. A single point of focus. All his strength was concentrated into one point.

Binaeril’s magic bullet exploded forward in a straight line with a series of explosive sounds.

Matthias felt a chill run down his spine instinctively.

‘No, focus!’

For a split second, fear crept into his blade. The emotion of fear.

The consequence of that was not insignificant.

The white beam clashed with the blue trajectory of the magic bullet, and one side shattered. Matthias let out a gasp of shock. His estoc, a treasured sword bestowed by the Order, was broken.

Matthias called out the name of the mage who had broken his sword. Then, the magic bullet pierced the chest of the twelfth paladin.

“Ugh…!”

Matthias fell, blood gushing from his chest. Binaeril also collapsed, overwhelmed by the exhaustion from his intense focus.

“Is he dead?”

Blood poured from Matthias’s chest. It was uncertain if he would survive without immediate help.

At that moment, the space behind Binaeril was enveloped by a curtain of multicolored stars. Inyakan’s urgent shout was heard. Turning his head, Binaeril saw a troubling sight. Priya, Pierre, and Professor Avia lay unconscious, scattered around.

The powerful magic that pierced through the sphere of mist was the power of Starfall.

“Matthias…!”

Callisto’s voice was filled with both sorrow and anger.

“Brother…!”

He emerged from the cleaved mist, his face contorted with rage, the veins on his forehead throbbing visibly.

“What have you done to my brother, Sir Binaeril!”

The white light emanating from Starfall was blinding. The light cast a deep shadow over Callisto’s face, highlighting his fury.

Binaeril’s legs trembled. Even Matthias’s strength had been formidable, but this… The furious eyes of Callisto darted between Binaeril and the fallen Matthias, making it hard for Binaeril to breathe.