The Author's POV

"So you're saying that you defeated her and in doing so convinced her to sign a mana contract with you?"

Douglas's clear voice echoed throughout the room.

"That's correct."

I replied with a nod.

Since the cat was out of the bag, I came clean about Angelica.

I told Douglas and Waylan everything that had happened between Angelica and me, from how I defeated her to how I made her sign a mana contract with me and how we came to the current working relationship.

I, of course, altered a few of the details about the story. After all, I couldn't just tell him that I defeated her through the use of the red book.

All I told him was that Angelica was heavily injured before fighting me, and that was how I was able to defeat her.

"…I see."

Stroking his beard, Douglas looked at Waylan, who looked back at him.

"Do you have a copy of the mana contract with you?"

Waylan asked from the side.

"I do."

"Can you let us see it?"

Turning to face Angelica and seeing her nod her head, I nodded back.

"No problem."

Tapping on my bracelet, an old-looking scroll materialized in my hand.

Unraveling the scroll, I took a brief look at it.

「Mana contract」

[Term 1]

Party A and Party B are prohibited from harming each other, regardless of means. If either party has any intention of harming the other party, the contract breached will suffer the consequences.

[Term 2]

If Party A is in danger, and Party B has the power to help, he/she must provide support to other party.

[Term 3]

The contract between the two parties will dissolve in five years. After five years, the two parties will no longer be bound by the terms of the contract.

[Term 4]

Parties are prohibited from harming each other's self-interest.

[Term 5]

.

.

.

"Here you go."

After taking a good look at it, I proceeded to hand it to them.

"Thank you."

Taking the contract, Waylan and Douglas unscrolled it and took a good look at it.

The silence that ensued after that felt almost suffocating.

But I remained calm.

I had gone through too much shit to get fazed from something like this. At the end of the day, given Douglas's personality, there shouldn't be any worries.

...I hope.

"How long do you have left in the contract?"

Douglas suddenly asked.

"How long?"

Frowning, I mused.

'If we're talking about time, counting the eight months I spent at the Monolith, the four months I used to get here to Henolur, and the additional four months that I spent with her before the Monolith incident, it should be about...'

head,

I still have a little over three years of contract

Douglas stroked his beard

can take

proceeded to hand me back the

"Thank you."

from Douglas's hands, I put

after was a subtle uncomfortable silence that was soon

contract, I can tell

Douglas looked at Angelica with

get a count ranked

"I was lucky."

demon was when she tried to fight Kevin

from Elijah's death, her rank was downgraded to that of an untitled demon, and

out that Angelica had gone from Baron to Count in a mere two years, they'd start to grow

seems like we've taken enough of your time.

Angelica,

she still turn back into a

I nodded my head.

should still be

"I see."

teacup, the tepid tea re-heated instantly at Douglas's touch.

you should do so for now. Her

out of Angelica's body suddenly stopped, and a small

small sip of the

of these subtle traces that I realized that she was a demon. This little protection I added should be able to hide her presence even better. Don't worry too much, though. Only ranked individuals can see through this level of

Pausing, Douglas frowned.

till now was probably because they were too

the teacup

in which demons have worked with other races aren't all too rare. If you had explained it to the dwarves before coming here, she

"You have a point."

spoke up

back on his chair, he

already seen a couple of demons working together with the dwarves. So it's

me, Waylan pointed at

hide a demon in your finger. That's

"...Right."

it, what Waylan was

hidden the fact that I had Angelica with me. Everything would've been resolved if I

was a factor that I failed to take into

his legs, Waylan

are

in

if

"Oh? Why is that?"

Douglas curiously asked.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

chair, I tapped on the

"Why?"

at Angelica from the corner of my

we can use her presence

***

from Waylan and Douglas, I made my way towards the utility center. I

with looks of approval. Be it dwarves, elves, or even orcs, whenever I went,

quite advanced. It wouldn't be hard for the others to see clips of how I

quite pleased

looks were a sign of acknowledgment. It meant that

before, I walked towards

Ci Clank—!

soon as I entered the building, I instantly spotted Malvil. He was currently leaning by the side

me, he greeted me

here, human. How was yer

"...Not bad."

I

probably saw it,

decided to

fight the whole time with the sword

"Tsk."

Malvil's

with his hands behind his back, he silently

goes my chance at getting a sword forged

as I stared at

my sword, I sort of expected this outcome. I did, after all,

I were in his shoes, I, too, wouldn't want to make a sword for someone that refused to listen to his

sword if I wasn't alive to hold

development, but it's not like I could force him to make a sword for me,

have to find another

be ye

"Huh?"