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

still have a little over three

other, Douglas stroked his beard and once again looked through the

can

proceeded to

"Thank you."

the contract from Douglas's hands, I put it

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

I can tell that

Douglas looked at Angelica

that you managed to get a count ranked demon to ally with

"I was lucky."

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

of 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 to beat

gone from Baron to Count in

enough of your time. You

at Angelica,

she still turn back

I nodded my head.

should still be able

"I see."

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

should do so for now. Her concealment is excellent.

the demonic energy that leaked out of Angelica's body suddenly stopped, and a

a small sip

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

Pausing, Douglas frowned.

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

put the

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

"You have a point."

up from

back on his chair, he

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

to face me, Waylan pointed

demon in your finger. That's very

"...Right."

it, what Waylan was

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

a factor that I failed to take

Waylan once

that the cat is out of the bag, are you planning

in his direction,

would like it if her presence still

"Oh? Why is that?"

Douglas curiously asked.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

on my chair, I tapped on the

"Why?"

glancing at Angelica from the corner of my eyes, I calmly opened my

we can use her presence to our

***

towards the utility center. I needed to sell the demon cores that I had

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

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

I was quite

looks were a sign of acknowledgment. It meant that

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

Ci Clank—!

Malvil. He was currently leaning by the side of the

he greeted me with a somewhat

human. How was yer

"...Not bad."

Malvil, the first thing I noticed was the unpleased

probably saw it,

decided to

didn't fight the whole time with

"Tsk."

Malvil's

his back, he silently walked back to his

goes my chance at getting a sword forged from

muttered to myself as I stared at Malvil's disappearing

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

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

the point in having a sword if I wasn't

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

just have to find

ye doing?

"Huh?"