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

a little

Douglas stroked his

you can

proceeded to

"Thank you."

from Douglas's hands, I put it

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

contract, I can

looked at Angelica

get a count ranked demon

"I was lucky."

ranked demon was when she

of an untitled demon,

Angelica had gone from Baron to Count in a mere two years,

enough of your

Angelica,

turn back into a

I nodded my head.

still be

"I see."

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

should do so for now. Her concealment

Angelica's body suddenly stopped,

took a small

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 this level of

Pausing, Douglas frowned.

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

put the teacup

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."

spoke up

his

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

face me, Waylan pointed at my

demon in your finger. That's

"...Right."

I thought about it, what Waylan was

had Angelica with me. Everything would've

a factor that I failed to take

Waylan once again spoke

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

staring in

it if her

"Oh? Why is that?"

Douglas curiously asked.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

back on my chair, I tapped on the wooden

"Why?"

at Angelica from the corner of my eyes, I calmly

her

***

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

way there, much to my surprise, I was met with looks of approval. Be it dwarves, elves, or even orcs,

was quite advanced. It wouldn't be hard for the others to see clips

I was quite pleased

their looks were a sign of

same road as before, I walked towards the utility

Ci Clank—!

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

me with

here, human. How was

"...Not bad."

thing I noticed

saw

sighing, I decided to

fight the whole time with the sword you

"Tsk."

sound of Malvil's tongue clicking

his back,

my chance at getting a sword

muttered to myself as I

I sort of expected this outcome. I did,

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

was the point in having a sword if I wasn't

about this development, but it's not like I could force him to make a sword for me,

just have to find

be ye

"Huh?"