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,

a little over three years of contract

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

can

proceeded to hand me

"Thank you."

the contract from Douglas's

was a subtle uncomfortable silence that was soon broken by

a good look at the contract, I can tell that what

his head, Douglas looked at

managed to get a count ranked

"I was lucky."

Angelica was not even a Baron ranked demon was

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

Douglas and Waylan found out that Angelica had gone from Baron to

we've taken enough of

Angelica, Douglas

turn back

I nodded my head.

still

"I see."

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

for now. Her

the demonic energy that leaked out of Angelica's

took a small sip

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

Pausing, Douglas frowned.

see. The only reason you hadn't been caught till now was probably because they were too focused on the enemies rather

put the teacup down and

which 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

"You have a point."

up from

his chair,

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

Waylan pointed at my

hide a demon in your finger. That's very

"...Right."

it, what Waylan

Angelica with me.

I failed

Waylan once again

cat is out of the bag, are you planning on telling the others about Angelica's

my head and staring in his direction,

would like it if her presence still

"Oh? Why is that?"

Douglas curiously asked.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

I tapped on the wooden

"Why?"

of my eyes,

her

***

way towards the utility center. I needed to sell the demon

surprise, I was met with looks of approval. Be it dwarves, elves, or even orcs, whenever I went, they would nod their heads in my direction before going on about their

about it, dwarven technology was quite advanced. It wouldn't be hard for the

I was quite pleased with

looks were a sign of acknowledgment. It

the same road as before, I walked towards the utility

Ci Clank—!

instantly spotted Malvil. He was currently leaning by the side of the

me, he greeted me

How was yer

"...Not bad."

first thing I

probably saw it, didn't

sighing, I decided to

the whole time with the sword

"Tsk."

Malvil's tongue clicking

around with his hands behind his back,

at getting a

muttered to myself as I stared at

my sword, I sort of expected this outcome. I

wouldn't want to make a sword for someone that refused to listen to his instruction, but at the end of the day, I did not regret what

the point in having a sword if I wasn't alive

didn't mean I was sad about this development, but it's not like I could force him to make a sword for

just have to find

ye doing?

"Huh?"