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...'

my head, I confidently

have a little over

their heads to face each other, Douglas stroked his beard and once again

can

proceeded to hand me

"Thank you."

contract from Douglas's

that was soon broken by

I can tell that what you were saying was

head, Douglas looked at Angelica with

to get a count

"I was lucky."

Angelica was not even a Baron ranked demon was when she tried to fight Kevin and

that of an untitled demon, and that was how Kevin

Baron to Count in a mere two years,

of your time. You can go

Angelica,

still turn back into a

I nodded my head.

still

"I see."

the tepid tea re-heated instantly at

now. Her concealment is

energy that leaked out of Angelica's body suddenly stopped, and a small transparent

took a small sip

does leak demonic energy from time to time. It was because 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

Pausing, Douglas frowned.

only reason you hadn't been caught till now was probably because they were too focused

put the teacup

demons have worked with other races aren't all too rare. If you had explained it to the dwarves before coming here, she probably would've been able to roam

"You have a point."

spoke up from the

back on his chair,

already seen a couple of demons working together with the dwarves. So it's not

me, Waylan

in your finger.

"...Right."

thought about it, what Waylan was saying was

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

that I

Waylan once

bag, are you planning on telling

head and staring in

if her

"Oh? Why is that?"

Douglas curiously asked.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

on my chair, I

"Why?"

from the corner of my eyes, I calmly opened

her presence

***

and Douglas, I made my way towards the utility center. I needed to sell the demon cores that I had harvested during my

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

it, dwarven technology was quite advanced. It wouldn't be hard for the others to see clips of how I

I was quite pleased with

of acknowledgment. It meant that my efforts paid

road as before, I walked towards the

Ci Clank—!

as I entered the building, I instantly spotted Malvil. He was currently leaning by the side of the reception, wiping his sweaty forehead with the large apron in his

greeted me with a somewhat

How was

"...Not bad."

the first thing I noticed was the unpleased look on his

probably saw

decided to come

fine. I didn't fight the whole time

"Tsk."

of Malvil's tongue clicking

his back, he silently walked back to

my chance at getting a

helplessly muttered to myself as

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

a sword for someone that refused to listen to his instruction, but at the end of the day, I did

having a sword if I wasn't

sad about this development, but it's not like I could

I'll just have

be ye

"Huh?"