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 confidently

little over three years of contract with

each other, Douglas stroked his beard and

can take

scroll, he proceeded to hand me back the contract

"Thank you."

the contract from Douglas's

was a subtle uncomfortable silence that was soon broken by Douglas, who's face returned

at the contract, I can tell that

head, Douglas looked at Angelica with

think that you managed to get a count

"I was lucky."

demon was when

Elijah's death, her rank was downgraded to that of

Baron to Count in a

enough of your time. You can

Angelica,

she still turn back into a

I nodded my head.

still be able

"I see."

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

Her concealment is excellent. However, it's not

energy that leaked out of Angelica's

small sip

that I realized that she was a demon. This little protection I added should be able to

Pausing, Douglas frowned.

Elves can probably also see. The only reason you hadn't been caught till now was probably because they were too focused

then put the teacup

in which demons have worked with other races aren't all too rare. If you had explained it to

"You have a point."

spoke up from

on his chair, he

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

me, Waylan pointed at my

a demon in

"...Right."

I thought about it, what Waylan was

with me. Everything would've been resolved if I

was a factor that I failed to take

Waylan once

bag, are you planning on telling the others about Angelica's

head and staring in

would like it if her presence

"Oh? Why is that?"

Douglas curiously asked.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

my chair, I tapped on the wooden

"Why?"

at Angelica from the corner of my eyes, I

we can use her presence to our

***

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

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

now that I thought about it, dwarven technology was quite advanced. It wouldn't be hard

then, I was quite pleased

of acknowledgment. It meant that my

before, I walked towards the utility

Ci Clank—!

Malvil. He was currently leaning by the side of the reception, wiping his sweaty forehead with the large apron

greeted me with a

How

"...Not bad."

the first thing I noticed was the unpleased look

probably saw it,

I decided to come

fight the whole time with the

"Tsk."

sound of Malvil's tongue clicking

back, he silently walked back to his

my chance at getting

as I stared

expected this outcome. I did, after

want to make a sword for someone that refused to listen to his

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 me,

guess I'll just have to find another

be ye

"Huh?"