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 years of contract

other, Douglas stroked his beard and once again looked through

you can take this

proceeded to

"Thank you."

from Douglas's hands, I put

was soon broken by Douglas,

look at the contract, I can tell that what you

his head, Douglas looked at Angelica

that you managed to get a count

"I was lucky."

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

to that of an untitled demon, and that was how

that Angelica had gone from Baron to Count in a mere two

it seems like we've taken enough of your time. You

Angelica,

still turn back into

I nodded my head.

should still be

"I see."

tepid tea re-heated instantly at

should do so for now. Her concealment

his hand, the demonic energy that leaked out of Angelica's body

took a small

a demon. This little protection I added should be able to hide her presence even better.

Pausing, Douglas frowned.

reason you hadn't been caught till now was probably because they

the teacup down

rare. If you had explained it to the dwarves before coming here, she

"You have a point."

up

on his chair, he

working together with the dwarves. So it's

me, Waylan pointed

a demon in your

"...Right."

I thought about it, what Waylan was saying was

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

I failed to

Waylan

that the cat is out of the bag, are

head and staring in his direction, I shook

if her presence still

"Oh? Why is that?"

Douglas curiously asked.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

my chair, I tapped on

"Why?"

corner of my eyes, I calmly

her presence to our

***

I

it dwarves, elves, or even orcs, whenever I went, they would nod their heads in my direction before going

was 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

was quite pleased

a sign of acknowledgment. It

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

Ci Clank—!

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

he greeted me with a somewhat

here, human. How

"...Not bad."

thing I noticed was the unpleased

saw it,

decided to

I didn't fight the whole time with the

"Tsk."

of Malvil's

around with his hands behind his back, he silently walked

chance at getting

helplessly muttered to myself as I stared at Malvil's

out my sword, I sort of expected this outcome. I did,

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

in having a sword if I wasn't alive

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

guess I'll just have to

ye doing? Follow

"Huh?"