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

stroked

you can take this

proceeded to hand me back the

"Thank you."

contract from Douglas's hands,

soon broken by Douglas, who's

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

his head, Douglas looked at

to get a

"I was lucky."

was not even a Baron ranked demon was when she

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

Waylan found out that Angelica had gone from Baron to Count

taken enough of your time. You can

at Angelica,

still turn back into a

I nodded my head.

still be able

"I see."

re-heated instantly at

Her

of Angelica's body suddenly stopped, and

a small sip of

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

Pausing, Douglas frowned.

been caught till now was probably because they were too focused on the

put the

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

"You have a point."

spoke up

on his

the dwarves. So it's not that strange. What's

Waylan pointed

in your

"...Right."

I thought about it, what Waylan

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

that I failed to take into

Waylan once again

the cat is out of the bag, are you planning on telling the others about Angelica's

in his direction,

would like it if

"Oh? Why is that?"

Douglas curiously asked.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

I tapped on the wooden

"Why?"

Angelica from the corner of my

we can use her presence to

***

I needed to sell the demon cores that I had harvested

it dwarves, elves, or even orcs, whenever I went, they would nod their heads

I thought about it, dwarven technology was quite advanced. It wouldn't be hard for the others to see

quite pleased with the

looks were a sign of acknowledgment. It meant that

before, I walked towards the utility

Ci Clank—!

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

seeing me, he greeted me

here, human. How

"...Not bad."

the first thing I noticed was the unpleased look on his

probably saw it, didn't

sighing, I decided to come

I didn't fight the whole time with the sword you

"Tsk."

sound of Malvil's

behind his back,

goes my chance at getting a sword forged from

as I stared at Malvil's disappearing

moment I took out my sword, I sort of expected this outcome. I did, after all, refuse to listen to

someone that refused to listen to

point in having a sword if I wasn't alive to

didn't mean I was sad about this development, but it's

just have

be ye doing? Follow

"Huh?"