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,

years. I still have a little

other, Douglas stroked his

can take

the scroll, he proceeded to hand me back the contract

"Thank you."

from Douglas's hands,

uncomfortable silence that was soon broken

look at the contract, I can tell that what you were

Douglas looked

that you managed to get a count ranked demon

"I was lucky."

reality, Angelica was not even a Baron ranked demon was when she tried to fight

the injuries she sustained from Elijah's death, her rank was downgraded to that of an untitled demon, and that was how Kevin and I were able

that Angelica had gone from Baron to Count in a mere two

of your time. You can

Angelica,

turn back

I nodded my head.

still be able

"I see."

tea re-heated instantly at Douglas's touch.

should do so for now. Her concealment is excellent.

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

a small

to time. It was because of these subtle traces that I realized that she was a demon. This little

Pausing, Douglas frowned.

only reason you hadn't been caught till now was probably

put the

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

"You have a point."

spoke up from

on his chair, he

working together with the dwarves. So it's not that strange. What's strange,

me, Waylan pointed at

in

"...Right."

thought about it, what

I had Angelica with me. Everything would've been resolved if I had just shown them

was a factor that I failed to take

his legs, Waylan

cat is out of the bag, are you planning

in his direction, I shook my

would like it if her presence still

"Oh? Why is that?"

Douglas curiously asked.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

chair, I tapped on the wooden

"Why?"

the corner of my eyes,

we can use her presence

***

I needed to sell the

Be it dwarves, elves, or even orcs, whenever I went, they would nod their heads

a bit surprising, but now that I thought about it, dwarven technology was quite advanced. It

was quite pleased with

their looks were a sign of acknowledgment. It meant that my efforts paid

as before, I walked towards the utility center's

Ci Clank—!

the building, I instantly spotted Malvil. He was currently leaning by the side of the reception, wiping his sweaty

seeing me, he greeted me with

How

"...Not bad."

first thing I noticed was the unpleased look on his

saw it, didn't

decided to come

didn't fight the whole time

"Tsk."

of Malvil's tongue clicking

back, he silently walked back to his

chance at getting a sword forged

as I stared at

sword, I sort of expected this outcome.

I were in his shoes, I, too, 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

sword if I wasn't alive to hold

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

guess I'll just have to

ye

"Huh?"