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

heads to face each other, Douglas stroked his beard and

can take

scroll, he proceeded to hand me

"Thank you."

contract from Douglas's hands, I

silence that was soon broken by

contract, I can tell that what you

looked

managed to get a count ranked demon to

"I was lucky."

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

that of an untitled demon, and that was how Kevin and

Waylan found out that Angelica had gone from Baron to Count in a

like we've taken enough of

at Angelica,

turn back into

I nodded my head.

should still be

"I see."

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

so for now. Her concealment is

out of Angelica's body suddenly

a small sip of

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

Pausing, Douglas frowned.

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

put the teacup down

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

"You have a point."

up from the

back on his chair,

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

me, Waylan pointed at my

to hide a demon in your finger. That's very

"...Right."

I thought about it, what Waylan was saying was

hidden the fact that I had Angelica with me. Everything would've

that I

legs, Waylan once again

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

head and staring in his direction, I shook

I would like it if her presence still remains

"Oh? Why is that?"

Douglas curiously asked.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

on my chair, I tapped on

"Why?"

corner of my eyes,

use her presence to

***

utility center. I

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

a bit surprising, but now that I thought about it, dwarven technology was quite advanced. It wouldn't be hard for the others to see clips of how I

quite pleased

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

the same road as before, I walked towards the

Ci Clank—!

spotted Malvil. He was currently leaning by the

me with a somewhat cold

human. How was yer

"...Not bad."

a glimpse at Malvil, the first thing I

probably saw

I decided to

fight the whole time with the sword you

"Tsk."

sound of Malvil's tongue

behind his back, he silently

chance at getting a sword forged

to myself as I stared at

this

I were in his shoes, I, too, wouldn't want to make a sword for someone that refused to listen to his

in having a sword if

development, but it's not like I could force

I'll just have to

ye

"Huh?"