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,

have a little over three years of

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

you can

scroll, he proceeded to hand me back the contract

"Thank you."

from Douglas's hands, I

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

contract, I can tell that what you were

looked at Angelica with

that you managed to get a count ranked demon

"I was lucky."

Baron ranked demon was when she tried to fight Kevin

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

Baron to

we've taken enough of your time. You

at Angelica, Douglas

she still turn back into a

I nodded my head.

should still be

"I see."

tepid tea re-heated instantly at Douglas's

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

demonic energy that leaked out of Angelica's body

a small sip

leak demonic energy 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 to hide her presence even better. Don't worry too much, though. Only ranked individuals can see through

Pausing, Douglas frowned.

till now was probably because they were too focused

then put the

too rare. If you had explained it to the dwarves before coming here, she probably would've been able

"You have a point."

spoke up from

on his

working together with the dwarves. So

face me, Waylan pointed at

to hide a demon in your

"...Right."

thought about it, what

shouldn't have hidden the fact that I had Angelica with me. Everything

a factor that I failed to take into

his legs, Waylan

the bag, are you

head and staring in his direction,

it if her presence still remains

"Oh? Why is that?"

Douglas curiously asked.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

back on my chair, I tapped on

"Why?"

of my eyes, I

use her presence to our

***

I made my way towards the utility center. I

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

it, dwarven technology was quite

quite pleased with the

a sign of acknowledgment.

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

Ci Clank—!

I entered the building, I instantly spotted Malvil. He was currently leaning by the side of

me with a somewhat

How

"...Not bad."

first thing I noticed was the

saw

I decided

I didn't fight the whole time with

"Tsk."

sound of Malvil's tongue

around with his hands behind his back, he silently walked back to

my chance at getting a sword forged

as I stared

I sort of expected this outcome. I did, after all, refuse to listen

someone that refused to listen to his instruction, but at the end of the day, I did not regret what I

point in having a sword if I wasn't alive

I was sad about this development, but it's

I'll just have to find

be ye doing?

"Huh?"