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

have a little over

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

can take this

he proceeded to hand me back the

"Thank you."

the contract from Douglas's hands, I put it

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

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

head, Douglas looked at Angelica

think that you managed to get a count ranked demon to

"I was lucky."

a Baron ranked demon was when she tried to fight Kevin and

of the injuries she sustained from Elijah's death, her rank was downgraded to that of an untitled demon, and

and Waylan found out that Angelica had gone from Baron to Count

enough of your time. You can go

Angelica,

turn

I nodded my head.

still

"I see."

re-heated instantly at Douglas's touch.

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

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

small

It was because of these subtle traces that I realized that she was a demon. This little

Pausing, Douglas frowned.

only reason you hadn't been caught till now was probably because they were too focused on the enemies

then put the teacup

have 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

"You have a point."

up

back on his chair, he

couple of demons working together with the dwarves. So

face me, Waylan pointed

in

"...Right."

about it,

with me. Everything would've been resolved

factor that I failed to take

legs, Waylan once again

of the bag, are you

in

it if her presence still remains a

"Oh? Why is that?"

Douglas curiously asked.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

chair, I tapped on the

"Why?"

Angelica from the corner of my eyes, I calmly opened

her presence to our

***

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

much 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 in my direction before going

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

then, I was quite pleased with the

all, their looks were a sign of

before, I walked towards the utility center's

Ci Clank—!

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

me, he greeted me

How was

"...Not bad."

a glimpse at Malvil, the first thing I noticed was the unpleased look on

saw it,

I decided to

didn't fight the whole

"Tsk."

of Malvil's tongue clicking

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

my chance at getting a sword forged

myself as I stared

sword, I sort of expected this

a sword for someone that refused to listen to his instruction, but at the end

having a sword if I wasn't alive to

development, but it's not like I could force him to

guess I'll just have to find

be ye doing? Follow

"Huh?"