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,

still have a little over three years

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

can

to hand

"Thank you."

contract from Douglas's

soon broken by Douglas, who's face returned to its usual

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

looked at Angelica with

think that you managed to get a count ranked demon

"I was lucky."

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

downgraded to that of

Baron to Count in

it seems like we've taken enough of your time. You can go

Angelica, Douglas

still turn back into

I nodded my head.

should still

"I see."

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

should do so for now. Her concealment is excellent. However,

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

a small sip of the

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 individuals can see through

Pausing, Douglas frowned.

can probably also see. The only reason you hadn't been caught till now

put the teacup

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

"You have a point."

spoke up

back on his

with the dwarves. So it's not that

face me, Waylan pointed at my

hide a demon in your finger.

"...Right."

about it, what Waylan was saying

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

a factor that I

Waylan once again

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

in his direction, I

I would like it if

"Oh? Why is that?"

Douglas curiously asked.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

on my chair, I tapped

"Why?"

glancing at Angelica from the corner of

use her presence to

***

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

met with looks of approval. Be it dwarves, elves, or even orcs, whenever I went, they would nod their heads in

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

was quite pleased

looks were a sign of acknowledgment. It

the same road as before, I walked towards the utility center's main

Ci Clank—!

was currently leaning by the side of the reception, wiping his sweaty

seeing me, he greeted me with a somewhat

here, human. How

"...Not bad."

first thing I noticed was the

saw

sighing, I decided

whole time with the sword

"Tsk."

sound of Malvil's tongue

his back,

getting a sword

helplessly muttered to myself as I

expected this outcome. I did, after

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

sword if I wasn't alive to hold

mean I was sad about this development, but it's not

I'll just have

ye doing?

"Huh?"